Advanced Equine Surgery & Anesthesia

This 6-week elective will build on the basic surgery and anesthesia principles presented in the Basic Large Animal Surgery & Anesthesia elective. The Advanced elective will focus on surgical topics, including orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, management of the postoperative patient, field surgical procedures, and topics related to anesthesia, such as anesthetic planning, intraoperative management of the critically ill patient, and targeted analgesic and anesthetic procedures. The Advanced Equine Surgery & Anesthesia elective is a laboratory-intensive course, featuring lectures that focus on surgical anatomy (including pathology), principles, and techniques, as well as topics related to anesthesia. These lectures are followed by direct laboratory applications of the principles learned. Examples of laboratory experiences include internal fixation, oral examination and dental procedures, sinusotomy and upper respiratory laser surgery, arthroscopy, enucleation and tarsorrhaphy, advanced inhalant anesthesia, necropsy and post-mortem anatomy, laceration and regional anesthesia, and bandaging and coaptation. Students will have the opportunity to practice surgical techniques with procedures such as castration and exploratory abdominal surgery, and will get direct experience with intubation and stabilization of a patient while under anesthesia. The limited number of students in this elective will allow for in-depth discussions and focused hands-on learning with direct supervision. Active participation in lectures, discussions, and laboratories is expected, and in-person attendance is mandatory. The course grade will be dependent on engagement, preparation, and effort in laboratories, as well as reading and reviewing primary literature, and participation in case-based discussions. Prerequisite: VCSN 6450 5 Credit Hours