10314 - Veterinary Anaesthesiology

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the theoretical, practical and clinical placement components of the course, students will have acquired the theoretical and practical knowledge required to administer local, regional and general anaesthesia to domestic animals, non-conventional animals and the most common wild animals (found in the local area), for both minor and major surgical procedures. They will have the skills required to use basic anaesthetic monitoring equipment, as well as the competence to manage the most common emergency situations and to carry out anaesthetic resuscitation procedures.

Course contents

This course is  part of the integrated course in “VETERINARY SEMEIOTICS, SURGICAL PATHOLOGY, ANAESTHESIOLOGY AND OPERATIVE MEDICINE”.

SPECIFIC PREREQUISITES FOR THE MODULE: To ensure a better understanding of the content covered in the module, it is recommended that students have already acquired knowledge of veterinary anatomy and physiology.

The programme is divided into an initial general section covering all relevant information:

- Description of anaesthetic plans and the stages of general anaesthesia (2 hours)

- Description of the equipment used in anaesthesia for both small and large animals (4 hours)

- Pharmacology for anaesthetists: descriptions of the drugs used in anaesthesia during the various phases: premedication, induction, maintenance of general anaesthesia and analgesia (both systemic and locoregional); (6 hours)

This will be followed by a second, a specialised part focusing on the description of:

- Systemic analgesia (4 hours)

- Regional analgesia (4 hours)

- Sedation and anaesthesia in small and large animals (4 hours)

Practical sessions will take place in the clinics of the veterinary teaching hospital and in the Skylllab:

- pre-anaesthetic examination (4 hours)

- preparation of materials and practical exercises on manikins for intubation and intravenous catheter placement (4 hours)

- interactive clinical cases with video presentations; selection of anaesthetic protocols and clinicla monitoring  (4 hours)

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials will be uploaded to Virtuale.

In addition, the following texts and guidelines are recommended for further study of the various topics:

-Bailey K, Briley J, Duffee L, Duke-Novakovski T, Grubb T, Kruse-Elliott K, Love L, Martin-Flores M, McKune C, Oda A, Pang DSJ, Posner LP, Reed R, Sager J, Sakai DM, Schultz AW, Tenenbaum-Shih S. The American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia Small Animal Anesthesia and Sedation Monitoring Guidelines 2025. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2025;52(4):377-385.

-Dolore e Analgesia negli Animali - D. Fonda, Point Veterinaire Italie, 2009;

-Shelby, A. M., & McKune, C. M. (Eds.). (2025). Small animal anesthesia techniques. John Wiley & Sons.

-Grubb T, Sager J, Gaynor JS, Montgomery E, Parker JA, Shafford H, Tearney C. 2020 AAHA Anesthesia and Monitoring Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2020;56(2):59-82.

-Lamont, L. A., Grimm, K. A., Robertson, S., Love, L., & Schroeder, C. (Eds.). (2024). Veterinary anesthesia and analgesia, the 6th edition of Lumb and Jones. John Wiley & Sons.

 

Teaching methods

The course consists of theoretical lectures and practical sessions/laboratories.

Given the nature of the activities and the teaching methods used, attendance at this course requires students to have successfully completed modules 1 and 2 via e-learning, and to have successfully completed module 3, which covers specific health and safety training in study environments. Information on the dates and attendance arrangements for Module 3 can be found in the relevant section of the degree programme’s website.

To take part in practical sessions and laboratory work, it is compulsory to wear a lab coat and suitable footwear. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided for carrying out the specific activities, such as disposable latex gloves.

During the theoretical lessons, the lecturer will explain the topics in the classroom as described in the syllabus, using slides, videos and interactive quizzes.

In the practical sessions, which always take place in the skills lab and the outpatient clinics of the teaching hospital, students – divided into small groups and supervised by the lecturer – will carry out the activities explained during the theoretical part.

Assessment methods

The final examination for this course consists of a written test comprising up to 30 open-ended and/or multiple-choice questions. Each correctly answered question will be awarded either 1 or 2 points, as specified for each individual question. The maximum achievable score on the written test is 30 points. Students who obtain a minimum score of 18 points will be admitted to the oral examination.

The oral examination consists of two questions. The first question concerns one of the theoretical topics covered during the course, while the second consists of a practical test related to the topics addressed during the practical sessions.

The final grade will be determined according to the student's overall performance, based on the following criteria:

• 18–21: Adequate preparation on a limited number of course topics, sufficient ability to analyze the subjects only with the guidance of the instructor, and fragmented or incomplete knowledge of the fundamental subjects that provide the basis for veterinary anesthesiology.
• 22–25: Satisfactory preparation on an adequate number of course topics, expressed with language that is not always formally accurate but demonstrating independent analytical skills, together with sufficient knowledge of the fundamental subjects underpinning veterinary anesthesiology.
• 26–29: Thorough knowledge of a wide range of course topics, ability to establish connections between different subjects, appropriate use of technical terminology, and good knowledge of the fundamental subjects underpinning veterinary anesthesiology.
• 30–30 with Honors (30L): Excellent and comprehensive knowledge of the topics covered during the course, outstanding ability to analyze, discuss, and integrate concepts, full command of the appropriate technical terminology, and excellent knowledge of the fundamental subjects underpinning veterinary anesthesiology.

The examination is considered successfully completed only if the student obtains a passing result in all required components. The final grade is calculated as the average of the grades obtained in the different parts of the examination and is expressed on a 30-point scale. A minimum final grade of 18/30 is required to pass the examination.

During the examination, the use of reference materials or electronic devices – including calculators, tablets, smartwatches and computers – is not permitted, unless expressly authorised by the lecturer. The use of artificial intelligence tools during the examination is also prohibited. Any such use constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

An unsuccessful examination does not result in a numerical grade but only in the assessment "withdrawn" or "failed", which is recorded in the AlmaEsami electronic examination report. Consequently, it does not affect the student's academic record.

 

The results of the individual examination components and the final grade will be published on the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/ ) within five working days of the examination date.

Students may reject their examination grade (please note that, according to the University Regulations, this is permitted at least once) by informing the examiner by email within five working days of the publication of the results.

The undersigned is the official examiner responsible for recording the grades for this Integrated Course.

Students may register for examination sessions through AlmaEsami (https://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). Examination sessions are scheduled within the periods established in the University's academic calendar. Additional examination sessions are reserved for students who are repeating the course ("fuori corso").

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant University Office in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti ). The Office will propose any appropriate accommodations for eligible students. Such accommodations must be submitted to the course instructor for approval at least 15 days before the examination. The instructor will evaluate their suitability in relation to the intended learning outcomes of the course.

Teaching tools

The teaching aids, equipment and learning resources used during the course will include PowerPoint presentations, videos, specialised software and in-class quizzes.

Should students have any difficulty understanding the subject matter, the lecturer is available to meet with them for a clarification session, by appointment via email.

Office hours

See the website of Noemi Romagnoli