VASTA × VETDUCATE – Regional Anaesthesia Day
Regional anaesthesia is no longer a niche technique reserved for specialists. It is a core clinical skill that improves analgesia, reduces anaesthetic risk, and elevates the standard of care in everyday veterinary practice.
This one-day, in-person course, jointly organised by VASTA and VETDUCATE is designed to give veterinarians a structured, practical, and clinically applicable approach to regional anaesthesia.
The programme uniquely combines:
Veterinary anaesthesia expertise, grounded in real-world clinical decision-making
Human regional anaesthesia principles, particularly ultrasound-guided techniques, adapted thoughtfully for veterinary use
Through a combination of focused lectures and hands-on cadaver laboratories, participants will gain confidence in both landmark-based and ultrasound-guided regional blocks that can be implemented immediately in practice.
Faculty & Course Leadership
Dr Olivia d’Anselme, Dipl. ECVAA Veterinary Anaesthesia Specialist | VASTA
Prof. Ki Jinn Chin, MBBS (Hons), MMed, FANZCA, FRCPC Professor of Anaesthesiology | Human Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anaesthesia
Dr Eric Yeoh, BSc, BVMS, BA, MA (Cantab.) Managing Director, Cat’s Cradle Pte Ltd Moderator & Co-Host
Dr Eric Yeoh will serve as Moderator and Co-Host for the course, guiding discussions between faculty, facilitating the translation of human regional anaesthesia concepts into veterinary practice, and ensuring sessions remain clinically relevant to everyday veterinary workflows.
What this course covers
Participants will learn:
The principles, indications, and limitations of loco-regional anaesthesia
Landmark-based head, dental, and ophthalmic nerve blocks
Ultrasound-guided abdominal wall (TAP) blocks
Ultrasound-guided femoral epidural and sciatic hindlimb blocks
Sono-anatomy, probe handling, needle visualisation, and injectate spread
How to safely integrate regional anaesthesia into balanced anaesthesia protocols
Which human regional anaesthesia concepts translate well to veterinary medicine—and which require adaptation
Who should attend
This course is intended for practising veterinarians who wish to:
Improve perioperative analgesia
Reduce reliance on systemic analgesics
Increase anaesthetic safety and confidence
Build practical skills in regional anaesthesia, with or without prior ultrasound experience
Course philosophy
Regional anaesthesia is not an “advanced trick.” It is a foundational clinical skill that improves patient outcomes and refines anaesthetic decision-making.
This course focuses on clarity, safety, and real-world application, bridging human and veterinary expertise to equip participants with skills they can use immediately in daily practice.
Programme
Morning Session (08:30–11:30)
Veterinary Regional Anaesthesia of the Head Dr Olivia d’Anselme
This session focuses on practical, everyday blocks used in veterinary practice, with an emphasis on safety, indications, and decision-making.
Topics covered:
Clinical anatomy relevant to head nerve blocks
Dental nerve blocks
Maxillary
Infraorbital
Inferior alveolar / mental
Ophthalmic regional anaesthesia
Landmark-based (“blind”) techniques
Volumes, dosing, contraindications, and complication avoidance
Hands-on cadaver practice Participants will practice dental and ophthalmic blocks using landmark-based techniques under direct supervision.
Lunch Break
Afternoon Session – Human & Veterinary Perspectives on Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anaesthesia
Human Medicine Perspective: Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anaesthesia
Prof. Ki Jinn Chin
Prof. Chin’s academic work focuses on the development and validation of innovative perioperative ultrasound-guided interventional procedures, with the goal of increasing the accessibility of regional anaesthesia to clinicians and patients.
This session will introduce:
Principles of ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia
Probe handling and image optimisation
Sono-anatomy and needle visualisation
Safety considerations and workflow integration
How ultrasound has transformed regional anaesthesia practice in human medicine
13:45 – 14:15 | Open Discussion: Translating Human Techniques to
Veterinary Medicine
Joint session
What translates well
What must be adapted
Anatomical and practical differences
14:15 – 14:30 | Coffee Break
14:30 – 17:00 | Hands-On Cadaver Lab: Ultrasound-Guided Blocks
Dr Olivia d’Anselme & Prof. Ki Jinn Chin
Ultrasound-Guided blocks covered:
Abdominal wall block: TAP block
Hindlimb blocks: femoral epidural and sciatic
Practical focus:
Probe handling and ergonomics
Identification of relevant sono-anatomy
Needle positioning and injectate spread
Clinical indications and integration into balanced anaesthesia protocols
