Emergency Medicine Immersion… A practical day of emergency techniques

In this session, we will review the common emergency presentation of pleural and pericardial disease in dogs and cats. We will consider the practical consideration for draining as well as the decision making regarding the placement of indwelling drains. We will also discuss the importance of fluid analysis and how this will aid in decision making.

Learning Outcomes

• Consider the emergency presentation of cases with pleural and pericardial disease.
• Learn about the practical options for fluid removal and drain placement.
• Understand the significance of cavity effusion analysis.

In this practical session, we will review the practical elements of removing fluid from the pericardial and pleural space. We will practice the placement of pericardiocentesis catheters and thoracic drains. We will also consider the placement of central lines.

Learning outcomes:

• Practice thoracic and pericardial fluid drainage.
• Learn about the placement of thoracic drains and pericardial catheters.
• Master the placement of central lines.

In this lesson, we will consider the indications for endoscopic retrieval of gastrointestinal foreign bodies in our emergency patients. When have they gone too far?! We will discuss the importance of nutrition and how we support our patients beyond feeding. We will discuss the indications for feeding tube placement.

Learning Outcomes

• Discuss the indications for endoscopic foreign body retrieval.
• Consider the importance of nutrition in the emergency patient.
• Lear about the indications for feeding tube placement.

In this practical session, we will practice endoscopic retrieval of gastric foreign bodies. We will consider the best use of endoscopy and some of the foreign body retrieval devices that we have available.

Learning outcomes:

• Learn the basics of endoscopy use.
• Practice the retrieval of gastric foreign bodies.
• Consider the endoscopic retrieval devices that are available.

In this practical session, we will consider feeding tube placement in dogs and cats. We will practice the placement of nasogastric, oesophageal and PEG tubes.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about the different feeding tubes that are available.
• Practice the placement of nasogastric and oesophageal feeding tubes.
• Master the placement of PEG tubes.

Delegates will get the chance to ask questions and further consolidate their learning from across the day with the speaker.

The pleural space is a common source of disease-causing respiratory distress in dogs and cats. Prompt recognition of this as the likely cause, and rapid targeted stabilisation, is essential for a good outcome. This webinar will review the clinical clues leading to a diagnosis of pleural space disease as well as the subsequent management of these patients on an emergency basis. The indication and techniques for both thoracocentesis and chest drain placement will both be discussed, alongside pleural fluid analysis in a practice setting. The lesson will conclude with important updates and recommendations for the management of the some of the more common causes of pleural space disease in dogs and cats.

Learning outcomes

• Learn about the common presenting signs in patients with pleural space disease.
• Review the indications for thoracic drain placement.
• Consider practical elements of pleural fluid analysis.

Pericardial effusion is the most common pericardial disease in dogs and cats. The clinical presentation of patients suffering from acute and chronic pericardial effusion differs substantially. Syncope or collapse is fairly common in patients presenting with acute cardiac tamponade and is reported in up to 50% of canine patients with echocardiography evidence of effusion. Pericardial effusion is usually secondary to congestive heart failure in feline patients. Pericardial fluid analysis is often performed after pericardiocentesis and is occasionally helpful in determining aetiology. Therapeutic pericardiocentesis is essential for the stabilization of patients suffering from cardiac tamponade and for definitive therapy in patients with infectious pericarditis.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about the most effective methods of diagnosing disease of the pericardial space.
• Consider the indications and methods of pericardiocentesis.
• Understand the most appropriate treatment options for these patients.

Central venous catheters (CVCs, or central lines) are catheters placed in such a way that the tip of the catheter sits in the vena cava. These are generally large-bore catheters and can be multi-lumen, allowing multiple fluids to be administered simultaneously. CVCs have several benefits and specific indications, including: The administration of multiple (incompatible) agents at once through multi-lumen catheters, the administration of hyperosmolar solutions which would not be suitable for peripheral veins and the collection of multiple blood samples through the sampling port, without performing repeated venipuncture. In this lesson, we will cover how, when, and why to use central lines in practice.

Learning outcomes:

• Consider the indications for central line placement.
• Learn about the benefits and complications associated with central lines.
• Review the practical elements of central line placement.

We know that nutrition is so important for recovery from almost every disease process. In this lesson, we discuss when to use feeding tubes and why. We also offer a practical approach to feeding tube placement.

Learning Outcomes

• When are feeding tubes appropriate?
• Which tube should I chose and why?
• A practical guide to feeding tube placement.

In this lesson, we discuss how we approach nutrition in our acute and chronically ill patients, why we need to assist our patients with feeding and when we should step in to provide additional support.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand what to feed and when.
• Review the role of appetite stimulation and when is this appropriate.
• Is there a need for prokinetic and gastroprotectant medication in our anorexic patients?