Veterinary Anesthesiology, Surgical Techniques and Intensive Care

A.Y. 2025/2026
8
Max ECTS
88
Overall hours
SSD
VET/09
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is achieving the preoperative, operative and postoperative management of the surgical patient by undergoing the anesthesia and the intensive care management and electing the anesthetic and analgesic protocols. Furthermore, the course will be analyzing and examining the surgeon and patient preparatory procedures and the main surgical techniques on both small and large animals.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course, the student will experience the management of the patient under general anesthesia evaluating anesthetic protocols on case-by-case basis, the patient administration within emergency and intensive care unit. In addition, the student will acquire the main asepsis and antisepsis techniques, surgeon and patient preparatory procedures and modern surgical techniques.
Applying knowledge and understanding: the skills acquired along the course will allow the student to independently decide on sedative, anesthetic, analgesic and intensive care protocols for each patient. Likewise, the student will manage to apply the adequate surgical technique in any circumstances, according to the surgical preparatory rules of the patient.
Making judgments: through practice the student will develop critical skills thanks to the activity performed
Communication: students will develop communication skills during either lectures and practice, such as peer-to-peer debates on clinical cases resolution, during which it will be acquired an appropriate language.
Life long learning skills: thanks to the use of the main scientific search engines during practice, students will be able to proceed independently to learn veterinary anesthesiology, surgical techniques and intensive care.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination is aimed at assessing the knowledge acquired during the lectures and practical exercises of all subjects taught. The examination will be in written mode according to the so-called " multiple-choice" method.
Veterinary anesthesiology and analgesia
Course syllabus
Physiology and pathophysiology in anesthesia (lecture: 2 hours)
Sedation and chemical restraint (lecture: 4 hours)
Pathophysiology of pain and analgesia therapy (lecture: 4 hours)
Inhalation anesthesia (lecture: 2 hours)
Remote Drug Delivery for Zoo Animal and Wildlife (lecture: 2 hours)
Anesthesia in exotic new pets (lecture: 2 hours)
Neuromuscular blocking agents (practice: 1 hour)
Anesthesia and analgesia in the cardiopathic patient (practice: 2 hours)
Anesthesia and analgesia in the nephropathic patient (practice: 1 hour)
Anesthesia and analgesia in the urinary obstructed patient (practice: 2 hours)
Anesthesia and analgesia in the patient with GVD (practice: 1 hour)
Anesthesia and analgesia in the patient with pyometra (practice: 2 hours)
Anesthesia and analgesia in the neonatal and pediatric patients (practice: 1 hour)
Sedation, anesthesia and analgesia in the horse (practice: 2 hours)
Anesthesia and analgesia in horse with colic syndrome (practice: 1 hour)
Monitoring under general anesthesia (practice: 2 hours)
Caesarean anesthesia and analgesia in dogs (practice: 1 hour)
Teaching methods
Lectures: ppt slides
Blended learning focused on student engagement with active learning (Flipped Classrooms). the student will have to ask questions to get to the problem solving
Personalized Learning: clinical cases resolution and clinical activities in the veterinary teaching hospital
Game-based Learning: team classroom quiz with interactive discussion of the answers
Teaching Resources
ANESTESIA DEL CANE E DEL GATTO, Aut. Federico Corletto, Manuali pratici ANESTESIA DEL CANE E DEL GATTO, Aut. Federico Corletto, Manuali pratici di Medicina Veterinaria, Editore: Poletto (testo di riferimento)
MANUAL OF EQUINE ANESTHESIA & ANALGESIA, Aut. Doherty & Valverde, Editore: Blackwell (per approfondimenti capitoli: 11 - 15 - 21)
Slides of lessons / practice
Veterinary surgical techniques
Course syllabus
The program includes an in-depth study of the foundational concepts of Veterinary Operative Medicine such as asepsis, surgical patient preparation, surgeon preparation instrumentation and basic surgical procedures.

Frontal lectures

Halsted's principles
The Operating Room
Preparation of the patient
Preparation of the surgeon
Surgical instruments
Needles-Wires
Drains
Hemostasis
Soft tissue synthesis
Hard tissue synthesis
Surgical accesses

Exercises
Disinfection , washing of the surgeon
Dressing
Preparation of the surgical field
Knots and sutures
Teaching methods
Lectures
Surgical video evaluation with active learning
Dry labs on basic surgical techniques
Teaching Resources
Medicina Operatoria Veterinaria
Autore Fabio Acocella
Veterinary intensive care
Course syllabus
Evaluation and triage of the critically ill patient (triage, stabilizing interventions, diagnostic procedures and ICU management) (frontal: 2 hours)
procedures in emergency department (vascular catheterization, endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy, thoracentesis and abdominocentesis, thoracostomy and tube placement) (frontal: 2 hours)
blood gas analysis interpretation, electrolyte and Acid-Base disturbances and fluid therapy (frontal: 2 hours)
invasive and non-invasive ventilation (lecture 2 hours)
management of patients with shock (practice: 4 hours)
management of patients with trauma (practice: 3 hours)
management of patients with intoxication (practice: 3 hours)
management of patient with respiratory distress (practice: 3 hours)
management of patient with endocrine disorders (practice: 3 hours)
Teaching methods
Direct Instruction: ppt slides
Blended learning focused on student engagement with active learning (Flipped Classrooms). the student will have to ask questions to get to the problem solving
Personalized Learning: clinical cases resolution and clinical activities in the veterinary teaching hospital
Game-based Learning: team classroom quiz with interactive discussion of the answers
Teaching Resources
SMALL ANIMAL CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE 2nd edition, Silverstein D and Hopper K, published by Elsevier
Slides of lessons / practice
Modules or teaching units
Veterinary anesthesiology and analgesia
VET/09 - VETERINARY CLINICAL SURGERY - University credits: 3
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor: Ravasio Giuliano
Shifts:
Professor: Ravasio Giuliano
1- 4 turni da 16 ore per gruppi di studenti
Professor: Ravasio Giuliano

Veterinary intensive care
VET/09 - VETERINARY CLINICAL SURGERY - University credits: 2
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Professor: Ravasio Giuliano
Shifts:
Professor: Ravasio Giuliano
1- 4 turni da 16 ore per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Ravasio Giuliano

Veterinary surgical techniques
VET/09 - VETERINARY CLINICAL SURGERY - University credits: 3
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor: Acocella Fabio
Shifts:
Professor: Acocella Fabio
1- 2 turni da 4 ore per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Acocella Fabio
2 - 4 turni da 8 ore per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Acocella Fabio
turno unico per tutti gli studenti
Professor: Acocella Fabio

Professor(s)
Reception:
10 a.m. - 11,30 am. Every Wednesday
Ufficio-Settore didattico Palazzina Studi, I piano, Lodi (Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria)