The current VIN date & time: Eastern

VIN SASX300-0921: Emergency Abdominal Surgery

The lectures for this course will be presented in an audio format using a webinar platform.

Presenters: Janet A. Grimes, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA
Chad Schmiedt, DVM, DACVS
Mandy L. Wallace, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA
Course Open: September 6-October 7, 2021
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Monday, September 13, 20, and 27, 2021; 7:00-8:30 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 4.5
RACE Category: 4.5 hours Medical

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Course Information:
During this course, participants will learn about common emergency abdominal surgeries encountered in practice. Gastric dilatation and volvulus, gastrointestinal foreign body obstructions, and hemoabdomen from ruptured splenic masses will be covered. Participants will learn pathophysiology, anatomy, pre-operative work-up and stabilization, surgical techniques, and post-operative management relevant to these conditions. At the end of this course, participants will have learned how to manage these cases from presentation to hospital discharge and should feel comfortable with the work-up, surgical techniques, and post-operative care for these conditions.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • diagnose and stabilize a dog with gastric dilatation volvulus, gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction, or hemoabdomen from a ruptured splenic mass.
  • explain surgical techniques for the above listed conditions.
  • apply knowledge of post-operative management for the above listed conditions.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists actively interested in emergency abdominal surgery.
Accreditation: This course is approved for 4.5 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. (RACE 20-842055)

Course Agenda:

Week 1 (Real Time Session September 13, 2021): Gastric Dilatation Volvulus and Gastropexy
Presenter: Mandy L. Wallace, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA
In this session you will learn pathophysiology, anatomy, pre-operative work-up and stabilization, surgical techniques, and post-operative management for gastric dilatation volvulus with a goal of participants learning management of gastric dilatation volvulus and gastropexy.

Week 2 (Real Time Session September 20, 2021): Surgical Approach to Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies
Presenter: Chad Schmiedt, DVM, DACVS
In this session you will learn pathophysiology, anatomy, pre-operative work-up and stabilization, surgical techniques, and post-operative management of gastrointestinal foreign bodies with a goal of participants learning management of gastrointestinal foreign bodies.

Week 3 (Real Time Session September 27, 2021): Hemoabdomen and Splenectomy
Presenter: Janet A. Grimes, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA
In this session you will learn pathophysiology, anatomy, pre-operative work-up and stabilization, surgical techniques, and post-operative management of hemoabdomen related to splenic masses with a goal of participants learning management.

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.


Enrollment is closed.


Tuition: Member $104 ($94 early bird special if enrolled by August 23, 2021)
Non-Member $183 ($165 early bird special if enrolled by August 23, 2021)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on September 13, 2021 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Director

VIN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357