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Training

Download the 2008 Veterinary Endoscopy Training Symposia Brochure [PDF; 536kB]

Click here to download a brief, self-running PowerPoint slideshow with the 2008 schedule and information.

Instructional Goals: to increase the numbers of small and exotic animal patients that benefit from minimally invasive surgery by increasing the number of veterinarians and technicians capable of doing endoscopy.

Training History: Endoscopy programs (lectures, discussions, and wet labs) have been taught at the University of Georgia since 2001. Faculty Steve Hernandez-Divers, MaryAnn Radlinsky, and Clarence Rawlings have each taught dozens of endoscopy training laboratories around the world. Their training is supplemented by Dr. Tim McCarthy, Dr. John Payne, Dr. Autumn Davidson, Dr. Todd Tams, and the orthopedic surgeons and internists at UGA.

Approximately six to eight courses are taught each year in exotic animals (see the exotics section of our Web site) and small animals. Small animal programs include cystoscopy, rhinoscopy, video-otoscopy, esophagoscopy, gastroscopy, duodenoscopy, colonoscopy, laparoscopy, arthroscopy, and thoracoscopy.

To develop skills prior to practice in animals, a wide variety of models and psychomotor trainers are used. Courses focus on more than just techniques or “how to.” We emphasize application by using clinical case examples, make recommendations on the integration of endoscopy into your practice, and encourage participants to change their approach to practice. We continually add new procedures and teaching techniques. These courses are regularly modified and updated.

Comments from course attendees

Some of the feedback from our training courses:

"I have recently attended two labs for laparoscopy. One put on by Clarence Rawlings and one at a national meeting. My personal opinion is that I will not be attending any more wet labs unless they are at UGA (can you believe I'm an Auburn Tiger?!)."

"Casual, informal, and easy to ask questions. Thorough - with good experimental tips"

"Presentation was great - great images."

"Knowledgeable - to the point. Useful and practical."

"Good real world application/tips/techniques."

"Thank you again for the fantastic instruction this past weekend. You and Dr. Radlinsky were very helpful to me and I learned so much.

"I wanted to let you know that I did a laparoscopic ovarian remnant resection today. It was a 6.5 pound, 1.5-year-old cat that started with signs of heat last evening. By the way - thank you for the class photo!

"Thanks again - am planning to be down for the flexible endoscopy course in August so I can actually learn how to get my gastroscope past the pylorus for once."

Small Animal Course Offerings

The Basic Small Animal Soft Tissue Rigid Endoscopy Course is introductory-level with skills considered to be standard of practice for the high quality practice.

The course covers diagnostic procedures (bladder, ear, nose, and laparoscopy) that can be done daily in practice. Integration of endoscopy into a practice is enhanced if a technician can accompany a veterinarian to the course. The course is designed to get veterinarians started in minimally invasive surgery by teaching laparoscopic assisted cystoscopic calculi removal, gastropexy, and ovariohysterectomy.

May 5-6 Basic Soft Tissue Rigid Endoscopy course registration

August 7-8 Basic Soft Tissue Rigid Endoscopy course registration

Basic Small Animal Gastro-Intestinal Endoscopy focuses on esophagoscopy, gastroscopy, duodenoscopy, and colonoscopy. Biopsies and foreign body removal will be performed.

August 5-6 Basic Small Animal Gastro-Intestinal Endoscopy course registration

The two-day Intermediate Arthroscopy Course was taught in December 2007 and will next be taught in 2009. This two-day intermediate arthroscopy provides more hands-on practice and introduction to power equipment than prior arthroscopy courses. Three-quarters of the course time is spent performing arthroscopy.

The two-day Advanced Laparoscopy and Thoracoscopy Course has been expanded from the previous one-day course. Lectures and several psychomotor skill development exercises and endoscopic knot-tying practice. The second day is devoted totally to skills-training in “hands-on” laparoscopy and thoracoscopy.

Laparoscopy includes gastropexy, calculi removal, spay, intracorporeal and extracorporal knot tying, excision biopsy of left medial iliac lymph node for cancer staging, dissect and remove right adrenal gland, and enterostomy feeding tube placement.

Thoracoscopy includes pericardium, lung biopsy with endo-loop, lobectomy with stapler, thoracic duct clip, lymph node dissection, dissect between pulmonary artery and aorta, extracorporeal knot tying about intercostal artery while in ventral recumbency or of internal thoracic when in dorsal recumbency.

Energy devices (LigaSure and radiofrequency for endoscopy) and stapling equipment will be used.

August 9-10 Advanced Laparoscopy/Thoracoscopy course registration

December 7-8 Advanced Laporascopy/Thoracoscopy course registration

Technicians are encouraged to register to attend lectures and observe the laboratories. We encourage each veterinarian bring the technician most likely to participate with endoscopy, as their role is critical when integrating endoscopy into the practice.

Exotics: December 5-6 Exotic Animal Diagnostic Endoscopy course registration. For details, visit MIS Exotics training.

>>  Read about exotics training

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