ICU Courses
VCSP649 Emergency and Critical Care Medicine
Dr. R. Syring and Staff Credits - 3
3rd yr., Quarter 4 24 hrs. Lect.
Prerequisites: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Year Core Courses
Limitations: None
Group discussions pertain to the clinical evaluation and management of small animal emergency and critical care patients. Life-threatening abnormalities of the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems are presented in a problem-oriented manner. Actual case material is used to illustrate principles with emphasis placed on the physiology and pathophysiology of the presenting problem. Monitoring and therapeutic procedures (both conservative and non-conservative) will be presented. The grade will be based on a final examination given to small groups at the end of the course. The examination will be a clinical problem similar to all the other clinical problems presented in the course. Everyone in the same group will receive the same grade.
VCSP654 Small Animal Critical Care Medicine
Dr. D. Silverstein and Staff Credits - 2
3rd yr., Quarter 4 14 hrs. Lect. 2 hrs. Lab
Prerequisites: Core Medicine and Surgery Courses
Limitations: None
This course offers a comprehensive overview of aspects of critical care medicine approached on a system basis. Lectures will primarily use a “case-based” approach with discussion of the physiology of organ function and the pathophysiology of disease, and will highlight the state of the art for these exciting patients. The final session will be a “hands-on” laboratory in which the students will work with the monitoring instruments that have been discussed during the course. Evaluation will be based on a 5-7 page paper on a topic selected by the students.
VCSP712 (7132) Small Animal Intensive Care Medicine Service
Dr. L. King and Staff Credits - 6
Clinical Rotation, All Quarters
Duration: 2 weeks
Required: SA
Limitations: 3-4 students per rotation
The ICU rotation provides a good medical approach to the management of critical and often very unstable patients. Since these cases are often very challenging diagnostically, and also very dynamic, they provide an excellent learning experience with ample opportunity for one-on-one discussion with the clinician and for background reading. Students have an opportunity to become familiar with use and interpretation of the advanced technical equipment available in the ICU and are also encouraged to perform and to perfect technical skills such as catheterization of blood vessels and the urinary bladder, obtaining arterial blood samples, etc. During the rotation, we encourage integration and a team approach among the students, the ICU clinicians, and the nursing staff. Students on the ICU service start daily at 7:00 a.m. Their day ends when their cases are stable and all of the proposed diagnostics have been completed (usually 6-7 p.m.). The students are expected to SOAP the cases daily including weekends, and to be closely involved in decision making, diagnostics and therapeutics and present and discuss the cases at daily rounds. Students are internally scheduled to assist in treatments in the Intensive Care Unit. Weekend duties are distributed among all assigned students equitably. Rounds are held daily Monday through Friday at approximately 2 p.m.
VCSP772 (7723) Small Animal Intensive Care Medicine
Dr. L. King and Staff Credits - 6
Clinical Rotation, All Quarters
Duration: 2 weeks, full-time
Limitations: Based on Hospital Needs; 3-4 students per rotation
This is an elective clinical rotation equivalent to VCSP712 (7132)
VCSP813 (8193) Small Animal Emergency Service
Dr. K. Drobatz and Staff Credits - 6
Clinical Rotation, All Quarters
Duration: 2 weeks
Required: SALA; SA
Note: Satisfies SA requirement
Students are assigned to a busy 24-hour, 7-day per week emergency service on a shift system. The students are responsible for diagnosis and management of animals presented to the service under the supervision of Emergency Service staff. Emergency Service rounds are held Monday through Thursday, inclusive and include topics related to emergency medicine and surgery centered around case discussion.
VCSP873 (8703) Small Animal Emergency Service
Dr. K. Drobatz and Staff Credits - 6
Clinical Rotation, All Quarters
Duration: 2 weeks, full-time
Limitations: Based on hospital Needs
This is an elective clinical rotation equivalent to course VCSP813 (8193).