VSPN TECH246-0919: Anesthesia for the Cardiac Patient

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

Enrollment is closed.
Instructor: Katy Waddell, LVT, VTS (ECC, Anesthesia & Analgesia)
Course Open: September 19, 2019-October 27, 2019
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Thursdays, September 26, October 3, 10 and 17, 2019 8:00-9:30pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

To prepare for your online experience, review the VIN-VSPN CE informational video prior to the course open date.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course is focused toward individuals seeking to expand their knowledge of cardiac function, cardiovascular anesthesia monitoring and the analgesic/anesthetic agents that might be more appropriate for certain types of cardiac compromise.
VSPN CE Course: Open to VSPN members. “This program has been approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.(22-37550) “

Course Description:
Anesthesia on healthy patients is not without complications and is too often taken for granted and performed without adequate planning or preparation. Patients undergoing anesthesia with heart disease present a bit more of a challenge than healthy patients. Those patients who require anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures require the technician anesthetist to bring their “A game” to ensure a safe and event free anesthesia. To help ensure patient safety, this course will cover a review of cardiac anatomy, physiology and various cardiac diseases as well as pharmacology, anesthetic plans, monitoring, and additional issues that may occur with the cardiac patient while under anesthesia. Several case scenarios will be presented to help the participant extrapolate information learned in earlier Real Time Sessions and put together a safe anesthetic plan for the cardiac compromised patient.

Week 1 (Real Time Session September 26): Cardiac Function
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Show an understanding of normal cardiac anatomy, function, and physiology.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the various common cardiac diseases presented to a small animal facility.
Week 2 (Real Time Session October 3): Common Congenital Cardiac Defects
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Outline a pre-anesthetic patient assessment and plan, including anticipated anesthesia and procedural problems that may occur in the anesthetized cardiac patient.
  • Apply knowledge of anesthesia, analgesia, and support drug therapy that the veterinarian may prescribe for the cardiac patient with congenital cardiac defects.
Week 3 (Real Time Session October 10): Acquired Cardiac Diseases and Their Challenges
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Apply knowledge of anesthesia, analgesia and support drug therapy that the veterinarian may prescribe for the cardiac patient with acquired cardiac diseases.
  • Design a monitoring plan to ensure the safety of the cardiac patient while anesthetized.
Week 4 (Real Time Session October 17): Case Scenarios for the Cardiac Patient
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Interpret data from monitoring the cardiac patient under anesthesia and use this information to further ensure patient safety due to complications that may arise during a procedure.
  • Work through step by step to help the participant troubleshoot issues that may occur with patients with cardiac compromise.
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.

About the Instructor:
Katy W. Waddell, LVT, VTS (ECC) (Anesthesia/Analgesia): Katy was one of the first technicians to become credentialed in TX in 1977. She retired from full time after 44 years in the profession which encompassed a wide range of opportunities. She was fortunate to work in small animal, mixed animal, specialty referral practices, 24/7 facilities, academia, and as an author. Additionally, she has the pleasure of being the veterinary technician consultant for Hadukikai Animal Critical Care Center, Osaka, Japan. She also serves as the staff liaison/mentor for multiple student organization, providing wet labs. Her work with the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences has allowed Kay to participate in clinical trials as well as publish articles and book chapters. She lectures and promotes education to veterinary technicians to improve patient care and advocacy on a local, regional, national, and international basis. She is the proud recipient of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association 2013 Veterinary Technician of the Year Award as well as multiple Student Choice Awards for Best Teacher, Best Patient Advocate, and "Cat Whisperer". She currently is the President of the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia , Member at Large for the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Emergency and Critical Care, an instructor for Veterinary Support Personnel Network and provides onsite in-clinic training.

Total CE Credit: 6

Tuition: Member $126 ($113 early bird special if enrolled by September 5, 2019)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on September 26, 2019 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.

To Enroll:
  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. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
  4. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 792 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
Enrollment is closed.

*Note: "This program has been approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.(22-37550) " ;

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. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

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

Lisa Kernaghan, LVT, RVT, CVT, VTS (ECC)
VSPN CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
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