Dr. Nathan Kapaldo hosts Anesthetic Monitoring CE event in Hays

By Rylee Coy

Dr. Nathaniel Kapaldo, assistant professor, anesthesiology, planned and hosted a single day continuing education event in Hays, Kansas, in October. This training targeted not only veterinary technicians, but also practicing veterinarians.

“I had wanted to target rural and non-rural practitioners who have the best of intentions in caring for their patients while under general anesthesia,” Dr. Kapaldo said. “However, they may not have kept up on the basics in caring for patients (anesthetized) perioperatively. I am exposed to students coming through the curriculum each year and know what clinics are like ‘in the real-world.’ We often teach a certain standard, but at the same time, we know the majority of veterinarians do not keep to this standard when in practice. This is an unfortunate but true state of affairs; however, the truth is that standard and effective anesthetic monitoring practices can easily be brought into daily workflow.”

Along with Dr. Kapaldo, three registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) from the Veterinary Health Center gave presentations: Cassidy Goering, RVT (lead anesthesia technician), spoke on pulse oximetry; Jeffery Volz, RVT, presented basics of electrocardiograms. Morgan Lease, RVT, covered practical depth assessment and management.

Cassidy Goering at the seminar
Cassidy Goering, RVT (lead anesthesia technician), leads a session on pulse oximetry.

Other topics included: the history of modern anesthetic monitoring in human anesthetic practice, pulse oximetry, electrocardiograms, cardiovascular consequences of general anesthesia, blood pressure and managing hypotension, common clinical case scenarios, depth assessment/management and capnography and ventilatory management.

Dr. Kapaldo explained how Hays was a good alternate location instead of holding the session in Manhattan.

“When I was a fourth-year student, I did an externship at Central Veterinary Services (CVS) in Stockton, Kansas. CVS commonly hosts veterinary students,” Dr. Kapaldo said. “I stayed in touch with them and when I floated the idea of having an event out that way at one of the June Conferences, [to Dr. Jess Iwanski], she was fully supportive.”

Dr. Kapaldo said having topics presented by and for veterinary technicians had advantages.

“People do not realize it – I think – but the technicians/nurses are the ones anesthetizing the majority of patients each day, across the country,” Dr. Kapaldo said. “However, considering the infrastructure in veterinary medicine, we do not always cater directly to the non-DVMs. I feel this is an avenue for outreach as a profession.

Dr. Nathan Kapaldo at the seminar
Dr. Nathan Kapaldo greets attendees to Hays, Kansas. Inset images: A Kansas map showing where the the registrants are from and a table with demonstration devices.

“Our nurses/technicians gave presentations not only because they are experts in their own specific fields, but they are also the perfect way to highlight the veterinary technician career path and all its opportunities. However, it is often up to the veterinarians around their technicians to support and uplift them, to support their pursuit of additional training and expertise.”

Sarah Keatley, who is the alumni affairs and event coordinator, helped Dr. Kapaldo plan and host the seminar.

The event was a resounding success – about 300 people or so were watching online in addition to the 60 people who came in person!” Keatley said.