Approved 2004
FELLOWSHIP GUIDELINES
VETERINARY ANAESTHESIA AND CRITICAL CARE
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF CANDIDATE
1.
The candidate shall meet the eligibility prerequisites for Fellowship outlined in the Blue
Book (2003).
2.
Membership of the College must be achieved prior to the Fellowship examination.
3.
Membership may be in any discipline.
OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate that the candidate has sufficient training, experience, knowledge and
accomplishment in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Critical Care to meet the criteria for registration
as a specialist in this field.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Knowledge
The Candidate will be expected to have knowledge of the following components of the
discipline:1.
Physics and Chemistry for anaesthesia
Candidates will be expected to have a basic knowledge of:
 Physics and chemistry relevant to biological systems, atomic and molecular
structure, pH, acids, bases, and buffers.
 The kinetic theory of gasses and relevant gas laws as they apply to anaesthesia.
2.
Physiology relevant to the science of anaesthesia and analgesia
Candidates will be expected to have a detailed knowledge of the physiology of:
 All body systems, including the changes induced by anaesthesia or sedation, with
emphasis on the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and nervous systems.
 Fluid electrolyte and acid base balance.
 Principles of intermittent positive pressure ventilation.
 Pregnancy and the foetus as well as ageing.
 Pain.
Candidates will be expected to have a basic knowledge of the principles of measurement
of physiological variables and their interpretation. This includes relevant comparative
anatomic features
3.
Biochemistry relevant to the science of anaesthesia and analgesia
Candidates will be expected to have a basic knowledge of:
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
4.
The main biochemical pathways for carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. It
will be necessary to interpret clinical haematological, biochemical and other
data results from laboratory analyses of blood, serum, urine and other samples.
Pharmacology relevant to the science of anaesthesia and analgesia.
Candidates will be expected to have a detailed knowledge of the principles of::
 Physicochemical properties and the formulation of drugs.
 Pharmacokinetics, including biotransformation of drugs.
 Pharmacodynamics, including drug receptor interactions; variability in individual
responses, drug interactions and adverse reactions to drugs and their
management.
5.
Anaesthetic equipment
Candidates will be expected to have a detailed knowledge of:
 The components and function of anaesthetic machines, circuits and common
ventilators.
 Principles of the use of anaesthetic monitoring systems and resuscitation
equipment, and methods for checking their performance.
6.
Anatomy and Pathology relevant to the science of anaesthesia and analgesia.
Candidates will be expected to have a detailed knowledge of:
 Pathways of peripheral nerves for regional nerve blocks and spinal cord and
associated structures for spinal and epidural techniques.
Candidates will be expected to have a basic knowledge of:
 Anatomy relevant for general and local anaesthesia and analgesia.
 Pathology of systems that affect anaesthesia, in particular changes affecting
cardiovascular, respiratory and renal and hepatic systems.
7.
General medicine and surgery
Candidates will be expected to have a sound knowledge of:
 general medicine and surgery and appropriate therapy for specific conditions
sufficient for pre-anaesthetic patient assessment and anaesthetic management.
 EMG and EEG as related to the science of anaesthesia and analgesia.
 The basics of radiographic imaging, including use of contrast techniques.
 The basics of ultrasonic examination, particularly echocardiography.
 The basics of magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography.
8.
Principles and practice of sedation anaesthesia and pain management of animals
Candidates will be expected to have a detailed knowledge of:
 Principles and practice of sedation and anaesthesia of dogs, cats, horses,
ruminants, pigs, wildlife, fish, birds, laboratory animals and reptiles.
 Pre-anaesthetic patient examination, assessment, and premedication.
 Induction and maintenance of anaesthesia.
 Appropriate measurement and interpretation of physiological variables during
anaesthesia and recovery and post operative management.
2

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Physiology of pain management and the provision of pre-, intra- and
postoperative analgesia.
Local and regional analgesia
Candidates will be expected to have a detailed knowledge of:
 Techniques of local,regional, epidural and spinal analgesia of animals, and
associated complications and their management.
10.
Intensive Care
Candidates will be expected to have a sound knowledge of:intensive care as related to
patients undergoing anaesthesia, (including the pre- and postoperative anaesthetic
period), including:
 Investigation, management and monitoring of these critically ill patients.
 Pathophysiological changes that occur during malfunction and failure of major
body systems; cardiopulmonary resuscitation
 assessment and management of the traumatised patient including pain
management.
11.
Anaesthetic complications
Candidates will be expected to have a detailed knowledge of:
 Complications associated with sedation, general anaesthesia, local, regional and
spinal anaesthesia and their management.
 Causes, assessment and management of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in
anaesthetised patients.
12.
Occupational health and environmental hazards
Candidates will be expected to have a detailed knowledge of:
 Pollution of theatre atmosphere, health hazards to personnel of drugs including
injectable as well as gas and environmental hazards of anaesthetic gases and
vapours; methods for minimising theatre atmosphere pollution.
 Storage and handling of gases and vapours to prevent fires and explosions.
Candidates will be expected to have a basic knowledge of:
 The abuse and addiction to drugs used in anaesthesia.
13.
Experimental design and statistical analysis
Candidates will be expected to have a sound knowledge of:
 Basic design and planning of experiments relevant to anaesthesia and the related
basic sciences.
 Common parametric and non-parametric statistical analyses of data and the
significance of the results.
Skills
The Candidate must be able to:
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
Review fully the work up and management of those medical and surgical conditions that
are likely to require anaesthesia.

Interpret clinical pathology results of samples from small and large animals patient for
pre-anaesthesic assessment.

Recognise and interpret features in radiographic (plain films and films taken using
various contrast techniques) and ultrasonic examinations, to assess function of major
body systems relevant to anaesthesia, particularly the cardiopulmonary system.

Record and interpret electrocardiograms and have knowledge of the management of
common dysrhythmias.

Carry out the following procedures:
a.
arterial and venous catheterisation, including central line
b.
local and regional nerve blocks, including epidural and spinal techniques, in
small and large animals
c.
orotracheal and nasotracheal intubation, and tracheostomy
d.
continuous infusion techniques
e.
monitoring equipment use
f.
positive pressure ventilation
g.
use of neuromuscular blockers
h.
emergency cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation
i.
pain management.
EXAMINATIONS
Refer to the Blue Book.
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Refer to the Blue Book
In addition to the Blue Book stipulations candidates must:
1.
Undertake a minimum of twelve (12) contact hours of formal training courses relevant
to anaesthesia, in physiology, pharmacology, anaesthetic techniques and anaesthetic
equipment. A roughly equal proportion of the twelve (12) hours should be devoted to
each subject.
Candidates should attend seminars, lectures and other instruction sessions for training.
Relevant training sessions for medical practitioners, including those for preparation for
anaesthesia specialty examinations, or the equivalent, are strongly recommended.
2.
i.
ii.
Anaesthetise a minimum of 600 animals and record:
Each case in an Activity Log (see Reporting Requirements:Section 1)
At least 300 of these cases in an Anaesthetic Record Log (see Reporting Requirements:
Section 4).
3.
Undertake Externship training to gain experience in additional animal species to those
available at the primary training facility.
TRAINING IN RELATED DISCIPLINES
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Refer to the Blue Book
Candidates for Fellowship in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Critical Care must spend time as
stipulated by the Blue Book in any or all of the following related disciplines: Surgery, Internal
Medicine, Pathology, Clinical Pathology, Radiology, Cardiology, Emergency and Critical Care,
and Pharmacology.
EXTERNSHIPS
Refer to the Blue Book
All candidates must complete at least one externship in Veterinary Anaesthesia.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1.
ACTIVITY LOG
The Activity Log is to be maintained throughout training as per Blue Book Section 3.8.
The Six Months Activity log is to be submitted as per Blue Book Section 19.
1a.
Format and Case Minima of Activity Log
An Activity Log should be recorded using an excel spreadsheet. A digital template is
available from the College Office or the College Web site and may be used as a guide.
The template for the Activity Log and Activity Log Summaries should be submitted for
approval with the Training Program Document. Details of every animal that is
anaesthetised should be entered in the Activity Log. At least 300 entries in the activity
log should be numbered and this number needs to be shown on the corresponding
anaesthetic record log so that the full details the anaesthetic procedure can be read if
required. At least 600 anaesthetic cases should be documented during the training
period. Not all logged cases require an anaesthetic record log (refer to Section 4b for
anaesthetic log case minimum requirements).
1b.
Activity Log Categories
Cases in the Activity log should be categorised according to the procedure for which
they were anaethetised:
Central Nervous System: Brain/Spinal Cord Surgery and Diagnostics
Respiratory System - Upper
Respiratory System - Lower
Cardiac System- including Vascular
Urogenital
Head and Neck
Skin/Reconstructive
Orthopaedic
Gastrointestinal
Pancreas and Hepatic
Abdomen - other (adrenal, spleen etc.)
Perineal
Diagnostic and surgical "scopies" including GI endoscopic procedures, arthroscopy,
thoracoscopy and laproscopy.
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2.
ACTIVITY LOG SUMMARIES
Three (3) Activity Log Summaries should be recorded within the excel spreadsheet that
contains the Activity Log. A digital template of the excel spreadsheet is available from
the College Office or the College Web site and may be used as a guide. . The template
for the Activity Log and Activity Log Summaries should be submitted for approval with
the Training Program Document. Every animal that is anaesthetised should be noted in
the ALS. It is acknowledged that one anaesthetic case may fit into more than one
category, e.g., a laparotomy for closure of portosystemic shunt could be vascular and
abdominal.
The Activity Log Summary should present animals anaesthetised according to:
i.
Species & Procedure for which they were anaethetised
ii.
Technical Procedure
iii
Sedation.
The CUMULATIVE summaries aim to show the total numbers and variety of cases that
the candidate has anaesthetised.
3.
ANAESTHETIC TECHNIQUE SUMMARIES (To be submitted with Credentials
Document).
The candidate must provide a one–two page summary describing their basic/routine
anaesthetic techniques for a dog/cat, horse, and ruminant including pre-operative
evaluation, premedication, induction and maintenance drugs used, monitoring during
and after anaesthesia and analgesia plan.
4.
ANAESTHETIC RECORD LOG (To be submitted with Credentials Document)
4a.
Format of Anaesthetic Record Log
An anaesthetic record must be documented for a minimum number of 300 animals that
the candidate has anaesthetised as primary clinician (see Section 4b below for minimum
case numbers applicable to Anaesthetic Record Log ONLY). The anaesthetic record log
should describe one case per page. Each case record must be numbered and the number
correlated with that shown in the Activity Log so that full details of the anaesthetic
procedure can be read. Both the candidate and the supervisor are required to sign a cover
page to the anaesthetic record log (Appendix A of these Guidelines) stating that all of
the anaesthetic records, when submitted, were cases that were anaesthetised as part of
the supervised residency
4b.
Anaesthetic Record Log Case minima:
During the course of training, a minimum of 300 cases must be documented in the
anaesthetic record log. At least 100 cases should be inhalational techniques in small
animals, 100 cases should be inhalational techniques in horses, 20 cases should be
inhalational techniques in farm animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and small camelids [at
least one of each species and a maximum of 10 of any one species]) and 10 cases should
be inhalational techniques in wildlife, exotic and avian patients (at least 3 species).
4c.
Content of Anaesthetic Record Log
Anaesthetic records should show:
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a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Preanaesthetic physical examination and laboratory results (if any).
ASA classification of anaesthetic risk.
All drugs given, the dose, time and route of administration and supportive
procedures.
Intraoperative fluids that are administered and volumes.
Time of start and end of anaesthesia and surgery.
Patient monitoring of physiological variables and method of measuring blood
pressure. Any other measurements made during the anaesthetic period such as
blood gases.
Positive pressure ventilation if given.
Analgesics given before, during and after anaesthesia.
Any relevant notes during the anaesthetic period.
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RECOMMENDED READING LIST
The candidate is expected to research the depth and breadth of the knowledge of the discipline.
The reading list below is very extensive and is intended as a guide to the candidate to some core
references and source material. The list is not intended as an indicator of the content of the
examination.
The relevant references are the most recent editions of the following texts and the most recent
years of the Journals (i.e. all journals published since the last issue of the relevant texts).
Physiology and Pharmacology
Adams H Richard (Editor) (2001) Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 8th edition.
Ganong W F Review of Medical Physiology. (21st Edition).
Guyton AC Textbook of Medical Physiology WB Saunders
Lumb A B Nunn’s Applied Respiratory Physiology. 5th edition. –excellent reference after reading
West respiratory physiology
Shapiro B A, Harrison R A and Waoton J R (1977) Clinical Application of Blood Gases. 2nd edition.
Excellent for blood gas
Stoelting R K. (1999) Pharmacology and Physiology in Anaesthetic Practice. 3rd edition.
West J. Respiratory physiology: The essentials 6th ed Williams &Wilkins essential reading!
Vander AJ Renal physiology McGraw Hill
Berne RB and Levy MN Cardiovascular Physiology 8th ed Mosby St Louis
Horihita Bawdle (1994) The pharmacological basis of anesthesiology Churchill Livingston New York
McCauley W Clarke RSJ Fee JPH Wallice WFM Anesthetic Physiology and pharmacology 1997
Churchill Livingston New York
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
Altman R B et al (editors) (1997) Avian Medicine and Surgery
Flecknell P A Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia.
Flecknell, P. A. and Waterman-Pearson, A. (2000) Pain Management in Animals.
Gaynor, J. S. and Muir W. W. (2002) Handbook of Veterinary Pain Management.
Hall L W, Clarke K W and Trim C M (2001) Veterinary Anaesthesia. 10th edition.
Hall L W and Taylor P (editors) (1994) Anaesthesia of the Cat.
Hellebrekers LJ (ed) 2000 Animal Pain a practice orientated approach to an effective pin control in
animals Van der Wees Utrecht NL
Muir W W and Hubbell J (2000) Handbook of Veterinary Anesthesia. 3rd edition
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Muir W W and Hubbell J (editors) (1991) Equine anaesthesia: monitoring and emergency therapy
Paddleford R R (editor) (1999) Manual of Small Animal Anesthesia.
Reibold T W, Geiser D R and Goble D O (1995) Large Animal Anesthesia. Principles and Techniques.
2nd edition.
Ross L G and Ross B (1999) Anaesthetic and Sedative Techniques for Aquatic Animals.
Seymour C and Gleed R Editors (1999) Manual of Small Animal Anaesthesia and Analgesia. BSAVA.
Short C E (editor) (1987) Principles and Practice of Veterinary Anesthesia.
Taylor P M and Clarke K W (1999) Handbook of Equine Anaesthesia.
Thurmon J C, Tranquilli W J and Benson G J (editors) 1996) Lumb and Jones’ Veterinary Anestheisa.
3rd edition.
Thurmon J C, Tranquilli W J and Benson G J (1999) Essentials of Small Animal Anesthesia and
Analgesia
Physics of Anaesthesia
Davey A, Moyle J T and Ward C S (1992) Ward’s Anaesthetic Equipment. 3rd edition.
Davis P D, Parbrook G D and Kenny G N C (1995) Basic Physics and Measurement in Anaesthesia.
4th edition. Highly recommended
Dorsch J A and Dorsch S E (1994) Understanding Anaesthesia Equipment. 3rd edition. Highly
recommended
Russell WJ (1997) Equipment for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. 2nd Edition.
Sykes MK Vickers MD and Hull CJ ( 1991) Principles of measurement and Monitoring in Anaesthesia
and Intensive Care 3rd edition Blackwell Scientific Publications London
Medical Anaesthesia
Atkinson R S, Rushman G B and Davies N J H (1993) Lee’s Synopsis of Anaesthesia.
Miller R D (editors) (2000) Anesthesia. 5th edition. Volume 1 and 2. Churchill Livingston
Prys-Roberts C and Brown B R (editors) (1996) International Practice of Anaesthesia. Volume 1 and
2.
Brandis Kerry The Physiology Viva Questions and Answers Alderbury House publishing QLD
Emergency and Critical Care
DiBartola S P (editor) (2000) Fluid Therapy in Small Animal Practice. 2nd Edn.
King L and Hammond R (editors) (1999) Manual of Canine and Feline Emergency and Critical Care.
BSAVA Publication.
Michell A R, Bywater R J, Clarke K W, Hall L W and Waterman A E (1989) Veterinary Fluid Therapy
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Statistics:
Myles PS and Gin T (2000) Statistical Methods for anaesthesia and intensive care Butterworth
Heinemann Oxford
Steven Cruickshank Mathematics and Statistics in anaesthesia 1998 Oxford University press Oxford
JOURNALS
The journals listed below contain original papers, and reviews, suitable for preparation for the
Fellowship examination. There may be relevant papers in other journals not listed below.
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
Veterinary Record and the supplement In Practice
Journal of Small Animal Practice
Research in Veterinary Science
British Veterinary Journal called The Veterinary Journal after 1997
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
Compendium of Continuing Education for the Veterinary Practitioner
Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
British Journal of Anaesthesia and the supplements BJA CEPD reviews and Bulletins
Anaesthesia
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
Anesthesiology
Anesthesia and Analgesia
Australian Veterinary Journal
Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice
Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice
Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice
Equine Veterinary Journal
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Appendix A:
Cover Page for Anaesthetic Record Log (Template)
This Cover Page must be signed by both the Candidate and the Supervisors and is a compulsory
part of the Anaesthetic Record Log.
The anaesthetic record log must accompany the Credentials Document.
Name of Fellowship Candidate in Veterinary Anaesthesia:
This Anaesthetic Record Log contains details of at least 300 cases anaesthetised during Directly
Supervised Training in Veterinary Anaesthesia of the above Candidate. We acknowledge that it is
a true and accurate representation of some of the clinical and technical procedures that have been
accomplished during training
Signed
Supervisor…………………………….
Candidate…………………………………..
Date …………………………….…….
Date………………………………..……….
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