Companion Animal Surgery - Good Surgical Practice

Course content

The purpose of this course is to provide the students with theoretical and practical tools to perform rational diagnostic work-up and clinical decision-making, and to extend the participants knowledge, personal skills, and competences within the discipline of companion animal surgery. The course will provide the students with theoretical and practical competences within the fundamentals of good surgical practice as it relates to first-opinion companion animal practice – in particular Halsted’s principles of surgery, atraumatic tissue handling, aseptic preparation of patient and team, and the problem-oriented and evidence-based background for decision making in companion animal surgical procedures. The course provides the student with a set of tools to assess the outcome of surgeries in general and to establish, perform, and develop a continuous quality assurance program in particular. As part of the responsibilities of the companion animal surgeon, the course emphasizes the importance of a systematic approach to, and management of, emergency surgical patients, animal pain perception, and individually tailored anesthetic and analgesic management.

Education

This course is a compulsory course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The Master is a postgraduate education targeted small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

 

This course is only available to enrolled students pursuing the full programme and is not open to single course students

 

Read more about the  Master of Companion Animal Science.

Learning outcome

Having completed the course, the student shall be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Understand the possibilities and limitations of surgical intervention primarily in first opinion companion animal practice clinical situations.
  • Understand the importance of applying good surgical practice, including Halsted’s principles in companion animal surgery.
  • Explain and discuss the key principles that are mandatory prior to initiating and for the follow-up of surgery in companion animal patients including challenging wounds and wound healing.
  • Explain and discuss emergency assessment and clinical decision-making in the acute surgical patient.
  • Assess the limitations and contraindications related to surgeries in companion animal patients.
  • Define and identify key surgically relevant anatomical structures.

 

Skills

  • Apply the physiological response to pain and tissue trauma in companion animals in a surgical situation including soft-tissue, orthopedic, and trauma patients.
  • Interpret signs of companion animal pain and administer appropriate pain alleviation and anesthesia.
  • Perform fundamental surgical techniques, including induction of anesthesia, in-vivo hemostasis management, life-saving emergency techniques, simple skin grafting and flap approaches applied in tumor extirpation, surgical biopsy methods, common ophthalmic surgeries, and oro-dental surgery.
  • Perform oral presentations for both specialist and non-specialist colleagues and clients.
  • Find evidence-based information and approaches in surgical patients including the use of searchable medical databases such as Medline.
     

Competences

  • Plan, decide, and evaluate a diagnostic work-up for patients with both simple and more complex histories within companion animal surgery.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within companion animal surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialists, dedicated companion animal and mixed practice peers, veterinary technicians, and lay-persons involved in companion animal surgical patient management.

A mixture of case-based and problem-oriented lectures, e-learning, theoretical, and practical exercises. Case-study work. Scientific literature searching.

Updated literature lists will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge updated prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.

Written
Oral
ECTS
2 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Type of assessment details
The ongoing test consists of three parts:
a) a minimum of 80% active participation,
b) preparation and presentation of, and participation in problem-oriented case discussions.
c) a critical mini-review and a procedure based on the mini-review.


To pass the course, students must have passed both Exam 1 and Exam 2. However, students may attend Exam 2 without having passed Exam 1.
Aid
All aids allowed except Generative AI

The use of AI or AI-assisted tools is prohibited for this exam.

Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Exam period

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Re-exam

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Criteria for exam assessment

To achieve the grade passed, the student shall be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Understand the possibilities and limitations of surgical intervention primarily in first opinion companion animal practice clinical situations.
  • Understand the importance of application of good surgical practice (GSP) including Halsted’s principles in companion animal surgery.
  • Explain and discuss the key principles that are mandatory prior to initiating and for the follow-up of surgery in companion animal patients including challenging wounds and wound healing.
  • Explain and discuss emergency assessment and clinical decision-making in the acute surgical patient.
  • Assess the limitations and contraindications related to surgeries in companion animal patients.
  • Define and identify key surgically relevant anatomical structures.

 

Skills

  • Apply the physiological response to pain and tissue trauma in companion animals in a surgical situation including soft-tissue, orthopedic and trauma patients.
  • Interpret signs of companion animal pain and administer appropriate pain alleviation and anesthesia.
  • Perform fundamental surgical techniques, including induction of anesthesia, hemostasis management, life-saving emergency techniques, simple skin grafting and flap approaches applied in tumor extirpation, surgical biopsy methods, common ophthalmic surgeries, and oro-dental surgery.
  • Perform oral presentations for both specialist and non-specialist colleagues and clients.
  • Find evidence-based information and approaches in surgical patients including the use of searchable medical databases such as Medline.
     

Competences

  • Plan, decide, and evaluate a diagnostic work-up for patients with both simple and more complex histories within companion animal surgery.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within companion animal surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialists, dedicated companion animal and mixed practice peers, veterinary technicians, and lay-persons involved in companion animal surgical patient management.
ECTS
5,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Practical exam under invigilation
Practical written examination under invigilation
Type of assessment details
The practical and written assignment includes two parts:

a) An Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS),
b) A multiple choice exam.

To pass the course, students must have passed both Exam 1 and Exam 2. However, students may attend Exam 2 without having passed Exam 1.
Aid
No aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner.
Exam period

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Re-exam

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Criteria for exam assessment

To achieve the maximum grade 12, the student shall be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Understand the possibilities and limitations of surgical intervention primarily in first opinion companion animal practice clinical situations.
  • Understand the importance of application of good surgical practice (GSP) including Halsted’s principles in companion animal surgery.
  • Explain and discuss the key principles that are mandatory prior to initiating and for the follow-up of surgery in companion animal patients including challenging wounds and wound healing.
  • Explain and discuss emergency assessment and clinical decision-making in the acute surgical patient.
  • Assess the limitations and contraindications related to surgeries in companion animal patients.
  • Define and identify key surgically relevant anatomical structures.

 

Skills

  • Apply the physiological response to pain and tissue trauma in companion animals in a surgical situation including soft-tissue, orthopedic, and trauma patients.
  • Interpret signs of companion animal pain and administer appropriate pain alleviation and anesthesia.
  • Perform fundamental surgical techniques, including induction of anesthesia, hemostasis management, life-saving emergency techniques, simple skin grafting, and flap approaches applied in tumor extirpation, surgical biopsy methods, common ophthalmic surgeries, and oro-dental surgery.
  • Perform oral presentations for both specialist and non-specialist colleagues and clients.
  • Find evidence-based information and approaches in surgical patients including the use of searchable medical databases such as Medline.
     

Competences

  • Plan, decide, and evaluate a diagnostic work-up for patients with both simple and more complex histories within companion animal surgery.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within companion animal surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialists, dedicated companion animal and mixed practice peers, veterinary technicians, and lay-persons involved in companion animal surgical patient management.

Part time Master and Diploma courses

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 24
  • Preparation
  • 80
  • Practical exercises
  • 18
  • Exam
  • 90
  • English
  • 212

Kursusinformation

Language
English
Course number
SCAM25001U
ECTS
See exam description
Programme level
Part Time Master
Duration
6 days full time.
Placement
Spring
Price

Good Surgical Practice - GSP – University of Copenhagen.

Schedulegroup
The course will be offered in the Spring semester (even-numbered years). For more information about the exact course please visit the webpage.
Capacity
24
Studyboard
Study Board for the Professionel Master´s Degree Programmes at The Faculty og Health and Medical Science
Contracting department
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Contracting faculty
  • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinators
  • Thomas Eriksen   (3-8475825083857e743e7b853e747b)
  • James Edward Miles   (4-7b727e7a5184867f753f7c863f757c)
Teacher

National and International capacities within the field.

Saved on the 23-06-2025

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