Cardiology

Recall and understand cardiovascular anatomy Revise the embryological development of cardiac structures and how developmental defects can lead to common congenital abnormalities Integrate your knowledge of the cardiac cycle, excitation-contraction and control of cardiac output into your understanding of the cardiovascular system Improve your comprehension of haemodynamics Discover the intricacies of cardiac action potentials

Key learning objectives:

• Explore the topic of human perception of health-related quality of life of cardiac patients
• Appreciate the importance of the best standard of care in veterinary cardiology
• Collect a directed and targeted patient’s history
• Recognise clinical signs associated with cardiovascular disorders
• Become familiar with cardiovascular examination with a particular emphasis on chest percussion techniques and cardiac auscultation

Key learning objectives:

• Review how to obtain thoracic radiographs of diagnostic quality
• Develop a systematic approach to the interpretation of thoracic radiographs
• Improve your ability to recognise radiographic signs of congestive heart failure
• Review non-cardiac radiographic abnormalities of the thorax and common artefacts
• Explore selective and non-selective angiography as an investigative tool

Key learning objectives:

• Perfect your ability to acquire and analyse electrocardiograms
• Recognise tachyarrhythmias, bradyarrhythmias and their clinical significance
• Understand anti-arrhythmic therapy and your pharmacological options
• Familiarise yourself with pacemaker therapy
• Consider electrophysiological studies and radiofrequency ablation

Key learning objectives:

• Develop your understanding of echocardiographic imaging and basic machine settings
• Familiarise yourself with M-mode, how to interpret what you see and what it can tell you about your patient
• Review B-mode and the different images used to assess cardiac function at different levels of the heart
• Explore 3D acquisitions and how they can advance your skills in echocardiography

Key learning objectives:

• Familiarise yourself with the progressive model of heart failure
• Transform your understanding of the activation of the sympathetic nervous system
• Revise activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system
• Understand alterations in the peripheral vasculature
• Develop your knowledge of the complexity of myocardial remodelling and reversed remodelling

Key learning objectives:

• Understand the classification systems of heart failure in veterinary cardiology
• Recognise clinical manifestations of acute and chronic heart failure
• Improve your management of acute heart failure cases
• Maximise longevity with better management of chronic heart failure
• Advance your ability to manage refractory heart failure patients

Key learning objectives:

• Understand the aetiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis of chronic myxomatous valve disease (MMVD)
• Improve your skills in staging patients with MMVD
• Advance your clinical management of MMVD
• Develop your knowledge of the aetiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis of infective endocarditis
• Become familiar with the clinical management of infective endocarditis

Key learning objectives:

• Enhance your understanding of the aetiology and breed predisposition of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• Consolidate your knowledge of the clinical and echocardiographic diagnosis of canine DCM
• Become familiar with the clinical management of occult and overt canine DCM
• Understand the pathophysiology and management of canine tachycardiomyopathy
• Improve your familiarity with the aetiology and management of myocarditis

Key learning objectives:

• Understand the complexity and limits of feline cardiomyopathy (CM) classification
• Review the pathophysiology of feline CM
• Become familiar with clinical and echocardiographic diagnosis of feline CM
• Transform your management of feline CM and arterial thromboembolism in your clinic

Key learning objectives:

• Review the pathophysiology and clinical management of patent ductus arteriosus
• Understand pathophysiology and clinical management of pulmonic and aortic stenosis
• Develop your understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical management of mitral and tricuspid dysplasia
• Perfect your clinical management of ventricular and atrial septal defects by fully comprehending the pathophysiology of these conditions
• Become familiar with advanced techniques for diagnosis and treatment of cardiac congenital defects

Key learning objectives:

• Develop your understanding of Doppler studies (CW, PW, HPRF, Colour)
• Consolidate your ability to obtain the conventional echocardiographic views
• Recognise the potentials and pitfalls of echocardiographic assessment

Key learning objectives:

• Review the classification and clinical presentation of intracavitary and extracavitary cardiac tumours
• Become familiar with the management of primary cardiac tumours
• Revise the anatomy and physiology of the pericardium
• Understand the aetiology and pathophysiology of pericardial effusion and tamponade
• Transform your ability to manage clinical cases of pericardial effusion

Key learning objectives:

• Differentiate syncope from other causes of falling
• Understand and manage episodic falling and “exercise-induced collapse”
• Successfully investigate fainting patients
• Become familiar with available diagnostic techniques and therapies for fainting
• Pathophysiology and management of:
  • Systemic hypertension
  • Pulmonary hypertension