69933 - Semeiotics and Surgical Pathology of Companion Animals

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student should know the pathogenesis, development and prognosis of surgical pathologies. Moreover, he should know the clinical methodology and semiotic topics useful for the recognition and interpretation of different clinical manifestations  of surgical diseases of companion animals. Finally, the student should know how to report and certify what clinically detected in the patient using appropriate terminology, choose the procedures to be followed to switch from differential diagnosis to the definitive diagnosis and communicate with colleagues and owners relatively to the clinical case and the diagnostic protocol followed. 

Course contents

The course Semeiotics and Surgical Pathology of Companion Animals is part of the Integrated Course Semeiotics, Surgical Pathology, Anesthesiology and Veterinary Operative Medicine.

Educational aim of the Integrated Course (IC). The IC aims to provide the student with:

• the etiopathogenetic and clinical bases of surgical diseases in large and companion animals in order to formulate a correct diagnostic protocol;
• the basic anesthetic and surgical notions transversal to the different species
• the appropriate terminology in order to communicate properly with clients, professional colleagues and responsible authorities

Teacher recording the Integrated Course: Prof.ssa Monika Joechler

Prerequisites:
The student already knows anatomical and functional bases of the different organs and systems, as well as the basic pathological processes, acquired from general pathology. Also, he knows how to carry out a clinical examination in companion animals.  The knowledge and understading of the spoken and written English language is mandatory  in order to read and understand the slides that the teacher may use, abstracts of publications, textbooks and handbooks.

The log of the propedeuticts courses is detailed in the webpage https://corsi.unibo.it/magistralecu/MedicinaVeterinaria/propedeuticita 

The course Semeiotics and Surgical Pathology of Companion Animals provides the student  with the etiopathogenetic and symptomatological bases of surgical diseases in large and companion animals in order to formulate a correct diagnostic protocol as well as the appropriate terminology in order to communicate properly with clients, professional colleagues and responsible authorities

At the end of the course the student is able to:

• properly collect the data related to the main surgical lesions and pathologies

• understand etiopathogenetic processes and analize them

• recognize, appreciate and collect the clinical signs,as well as to get a detailed medical history

• report and certify what clinically detected in the patient using appropriate terminology

• decide the procedures to be followed to switch from differential diagnosis to the definitive diagnosis

• communicate  in oral and written form with colleagues and owners relatively to the clinical case and the diagnostic protocol followed

• solve the proposed problems through the presentation of clinical cases;

• discuss in an interactive way with students and tutor the possible diagnostic  decisions (decision making) in real or simulated clinical cases;

• utilize complementary resources available In Situ (Portale Didattico Veterinario, web-search systems and similars) to solve the proposed problems.

Safety training course is mandatory for students before attending the course

In consideration of the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, for the attendance of this training activity  all students have to attend Modules 1 and 2 in e-learning mode and Module 3 of specific health and safety training in study areas . Information on dates and methods of attendance for Module 3 can be consulted in the specific section of the degree program website [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas].

The Syllabus of the course unit and the list of EAEVE Day One Competences that the course unit contributes to achieving can be viewed on the dedicated page.

http://corsi.unibo.it/singlecycle/VeterinaryMedicine/course-units-syllabi-and-day-one-competences

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching material consists of textbooks (see below) and  course notes in PP presentation located in the istitutional course website (https://virtuale.unibo.it/)

Specifically, the required textbooks are:

D.Slatter: TRATTATO DI CHIRURGIA DEI PICCOLI ANIMALI – DELFINO ed., 2005

K.M. Tobias, S.A.Johnston: Veterinary surgery - Small animal. Elseviever Saunders ed., 2012

The recommended textbooks are:

M.J. Bojrab : LE BASI PATOGENETICHE DELLE MALATTIE CHIRURGICHE NEI PICCOLI ANIMALI –Giraldi ed., 2001

Micheletto B.: Patologia chirurgica veterinaria e podologia , UTET 1980

Valentini S.: Introduzione alla semeiotica chirurgica, Cristiano Giraldi ed. 2000

Please note that course notes are just a way of integrating the textbooks and not to replace them.

Texts or articles that could be functional to understanding the topic will be suggested during the course.

Teaching methods

The course is made of academic (frontal – 28 hours Module 1 and 8 hours Module 2) and practical lessons (36 hours Module  and 12 hours Module 1).

Academic lessons
The frontal lessons provide close interaction between the teacher and students and are organized in order to better represent the situation in which the veterinary surgeon finds himself in the profession. Normally, the course is held in presence. In case of necessity, due to the persistence of the threat of COVID-19, academic and practical lessons could be held on line, partially or totally.
In detail, the lectures are devoted to defining the pathological processes using the correct terminology, identify the etiopathogenesis and set the clinical approach to a patient using the in-depth description of the items hereunder reported:

• Signalement and anamnesis

• General physical examination (EOG)

• Physical examination of the different specific systems (EOP)

• Clinical signs evaluation
  

• Selection among diagnostic techniques

• Setting up a differential diagnosis

  Supervised pratical training

  Practical lessons are held dividing the students in groups. The same hour of practical lesson is provided for each group. For access to the exercise room (if this is different from computer labs) it is mandatory to wear a gown. When necessary, PPIs suitable for carrying out specific activities (such as single-use gloves)will also be provided.
  The goal of the practical lessons are:

• Allow a correct logical-deductive approach in the surgical case management.
• Formulate diagnostic protocols based on the real or virtual presentation of clinical cases
• Acquisition of skills' processing and synthesis
• Acquisition of skills' communication and teamwork

Practical lessons include a "problem solving"  activity and   involve the possibility that the student works autonomously  and in team with other students in order to  promote active learning processes.

With regard to criteria for verification and certification of attendance to educational activities, please see https://corsi.unibo.it/singlecycle/VeterinaryMedicine/lecture-attendance

Students with disabilities who require adaptations to teaching during the lesson or final assessment have to contact the teacher by email; request should be addressed also to the staff of Students With Disabilities Front Office and Services and to the Department coordinator for disability issues dr. Fabiana Trombetti

Assessment methods

The exam has the objective to evaluate the achievement of the main learning outcomes:

• Knowledge and definition of pathological processes of surgical interest and relative etiopathology

• Identification and analisys of symptoms

• Knowledge of the phases of a diagnostic procedure (EOG, EOP, diagnostic techniques)contextualized to the problem

• Ability to reprocess the data obtained and to use them for written or verbal communications

The exam will focus on the topics related to the syllabus of the last year.

The student must know the relevant information acquired in the previous teaching courses (prerequisites), and specifically those pertaining the physiological function of the different systems of the body, as well as those related with the principal physiopathological mechanisms of dysfunction.

During the exam is not allowed the use of any support material, such as textbooks, notes, notebooks and other electronic devices

The final mark of the integrated course " SEMEIOTICA, PATOLOGIA CHIRURGICA, ANESTESIOLOGIA E MEDICINA OPERATORIA VETERINARIA " results from the mean of the marks obtained in the final evaluations of the single different courses that comprise the integrated course.

Teacher recording the Integrate Course: Prof.ssa Monika Joechler (monika.joechler@unibo.it)

The evaluation of the student for the teaching course SEMEIOTICA E PATOLOGIA CHIRURGICA DEGLI ANIMALI DA COMPAGNIA consists of one single exam , divided into written and oral part, both to be performed in the same time ( in the same exam session).

The written part consists of multiple-choice questions, questions "fill the gap", questions "true or false", “open” questions. Time available: 1 hour.
The purpose of the written part is to verify the proper learning the terminology and the etiology of the disease processes, as well as any technical data or classifying criteria. It is considered passed when the minimum score value (18/30) is reached. The score of each single question varies from 0 to 2 points for a minimum total score of 18 and a maximum of 30.

A negative result in the written test does not allow to sit the oral test.

The oral part is aimed to verify the acquisition of the knowledge required as detailed in the objectives of the course : this part of the exam is passed when the candidate is able to correctly answer a maximum of two-three main questions concerning the topics discussed during the course. The evaluation of the candidate may include other minor questions related to the topics of the two main questions. The assessment methods may include the use of images/videos .

Graduation of the mark in oral exam:

• Substantially exhaustive preparation on the topics addressed in the course, ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis and connection between topics, full mastery of specific terminology, ability to argue and self-reflection (30-30L).
• Knowledge of a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology (25-29).
• Knowledge of a limited number of topics covered in the course or autonomous analysis skills only on purely executive matters; correct language (20-24).
• Knowledge of a very limited number of topics covered in the course or analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the teacher; sufficient language (18-19).

Particular attention is made to the student's ability to reason and to cross-link the information given in the course with those acquired by different teaching in previous years.

The final mark will include the written and oral assessment. A 30-point scale is used for exams, with 30 points being the best grade and 18 the minimum passing grade. In the case of maximum grade (30/30), the highest marks with praise (30 and praise) can be attributed.

Even having reported a positive grade, the student can
refuse the score. The refusal must be granted by the teacher at least once on the single course(according to the University teaching regulations ART. 16, paragraph 5)

Registration and examination dates: the student can register exclusively using the online Alma Esami system (https://almaesami.unibo.it)

In case of unexpected events, the assessment procedures may undergo changes which will be communicated to students before the date of the test.

Teaching tools

Clinical cases (real and/or recorded) , computer lab, Portale Didattico Veterinario (PDV), material and structures of the Teaching Hospital.

Academic lessons use powerpoint (PP) presentations  which, in the PDF version are downloadable by students through the website https://virtuale.unibo.it/.

Please note that PP presentations are just a way of integrating the textbooks and not to replace them.

 

Office hours

See the website of Simona Valentini

See the website of Giuseppe Spinella