Managing the trauma patient
May 3–5, 2024
Ross Palmer D.V.M., MS.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Professor of Orthopedics
Colorado State University
Tim Hackett D.V.M.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary
Emergency & Critical Care
Professor of Emergency & Critical Care
Cornell University
Howard Seim III D.V.M.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Professor of Surgery
Colorado State University
Sarah Marvel D.V.M.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Clinical Instructor
Colorado State University
You know how it is…everything is quiet and under control in the clinic when all of sudden you’ve got a frantic client running through the front door with a severely traumatized pet. Now is not the time to read…now is the time to act purposefully and efficiently. First, you’ve got a life to save! Don’t get too focused on the degloving injury or protruding bones just yet. You might want to hold off on the primary repairs until the patient is stable enough to handle such surgical trauma. Once you’ve managed the shock and hemorrhage we’ll take you through the second tier of patient assessment and possibly the need for emergency soft tissue surgery. For some orthopedic trauma cases you may opt to refer to a specialist for definitive treatment, but there is still an expectation and obligation for you to provide the very best first aid care for the patient. Managing pain, covering large wounds, reducing contamination, immobilizing fractures and keeping on top of expected complications will all help improve the outcome of any primary repair. For these patients, treatment of the localized effects of trauma often has both immediate and long-term benefits for the patient. Timely and effective management of shear wounds, joint luxations and fractures can relieve patient discomfort, prevent ongoing damage, and initiate the healing process.
Speakers & Topics
Come learn from our Trauma Team comprised of an emergency critical care specialist, a soft tissue surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon. They will guide you from life-saving care to wound care to abdominal surgery and to basic care for fractures & luxations. This team uses real life clinical cases, video examples, practical tips and audience response devices to keep the discussion lively, interactive, relevant and fun.
Come and learn the following:
1. Triage and Emergency Care
• The emergency assessment and what it means to stabilize
• Trauma’s triad of death (acidosis, hypothermia, coagulopathy)
2. Systemic Complications of Trauma
• Cardiac and pulmonary injuries
• Intracranial and spinal trauma
• Non-surgical management of intraabdominal hemorrhage
• The other intraabdominal complications: Urinary and biliary trauma
3. Anesthesia for the Critical Patient
• Principles, rational choices and monitoring
4. Managing patients with severe chest trauma
Chest drain placement
Diaphragmatic hernia repair
Managing a patient with a flail chest segment
5 Managing patients with blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma
Surgically managing uroabdomen
Big dog little dog syndrome – managing severe bite wounds
Ruptured urethra – what do I do?
6. Practical management of open wounds (with a few secrets)
• Open wound first aid
• Wound healing simplified: Clean up, grow up and toughen up
• New wound care & bandage materials and how they work
• How a wound tells you what it needs
• Tie-over bandages – you name the wound and I can bandage it!
• Can you stretch skin to make a wound heal?
7. Traumatic Hip Luxation
• 3 ways to detect hip luxation on physical examination
• How to tell dorsal from ventral luxation
• 5 essential radiographic assessments
• Is closed hip reduction indicated?
• Step-by-step technique for closed hip reduction
• Why traditional Ehmer Slings don’t work
• New & Improved Ehmer Sling technique
• Commercial “off the shelf” Ehmer Slings: cash hog or valuable tool?
• Rats! … the hip re-luxated. Now what?
8. First Aid for Long Bone Fractures (Temporary Bandages & Splints)
• Robert Jones Bandage
• Pre-fabricated splints
• How to custom mold a splint
• How, when and why to make a Spica Splint
• Velpeau Sling for medial shoulder luxation
9. Casting Tips for Definitive Treatment of Selected Fractures
• Case selection (& cases to avoid)
• Common errors that you can avoid
• Practical Tips for application
• Practical tips for monitoring, maintaining and changing the cast
10. Post-operative Critical Care
a. What to expect in the hours and days following trauma
b. Principles of post-operative care
Schedule
| Registration | Friday, May 3, 2024 | 7:15 am – 8:00 am |
| Breakfast | Daily | 7:15 am – 8:00 am |
| Lectures | Friday May 3 | 8:00 am – 1:20 pm |
| Saturday May 4 | 8:00 am – 1:20 pm | |
| Sunday May 5 | 8:00 am – 1:20 pm |
Accommodations
From the flowing, asymmetrical Dale Chihuly chandeliers that greet you in the lobby to the visually stunning John Scott paintings and sculptures placed throughout the hotel, you will find your senses are both satisfied and stimulated. The Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel is an exceptional New Orleans boutique hotel with artistic flair and is located in a historic warehouse, circa 1910.
Situated in the heart of the Arts District near the French Quarter, this New Orleans arts hotel is conveniently located near attractions such as Harrah’s Casino, Audubon Aquarium and numerous museums. Guests looking for a unique dining experience have an array of options nearby, including our on-site Rene Bistrot. This boutique NOLA hotel restaurant serves quality French bistro-style cuisine prepared by celebrated Master Chef Rene Bajeux. For entertainment enthusiasts, it is within close proximity to well-known music and sporting venues, including the Louisiana Superdome. Or enjoy a refreshing swim in their rooftop pool.
Price:
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Group rooms are sold out. Please contact our office at 800-487-5650 for current availability
Group room rate:
Our group rate: $285.00 per night plus tax & fees
This rate is based on single or double occupancy.
**There is a 3 night minimum stay as this is over Jazz Fest**
Taxes & Fees:
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The above rate is subject to state and local taxes, currently 13.45%, a New Orleans Convention & Visitors’ Bureau assessment of 1.75%, and a City Occupancy fee $1.00 per night. All taxes and fees are subject to change without notice.
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Parking is Valet only: Short-Term 0-8 hours: $18.00 USD (plus tax) Long-Term/Overnight: $38.00 USD (plus tax) (Subject to change)
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As a special concession for our group, wireless internet in sleeping rooms will be complimentary (usually a $12.95 daily fee).
Terms
Cancellations:
A valid credit is required to guarantee your room. You have up to 21 days prior to cancel without penalty. You will be charged for your complete scheduled stay if you cancel within 21 days of your scheduled arrival, or are a no-show, or depart early.
Things To Do
Area Attractions
Visit the nearby National WWII Museum or dive into New Orleans’ famous Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and explore the exhibits. Discover the New Orleans Museum of Art, the city’s oldest fine arts institution.
Other attractions include:
New Orleans Jazz Fest
We will be visiting New Orleans during the second weekend of the Jazz Fest- always a fun time at the fairgrounds!
Swamp and plantation tours
Cajun Encounters uses smaller boats that accommodate up to 24 passengers to allow for a more quiet and up-close experience. With vast knowledge of the swamp and the wildlife, we can weave you through the back bayous for a real Cajun experience.
Dining
Onsite, you’ll find Legacy Kitchen.
Or, if you’re looking for something offsite, click here.
Need To Know
Registration
Online registration is easy and fast. But please confirm your hotel reservations prior to completing your registration or booking flights. Many Hotels are selling out many months ahead of our seminars. If you need to book a hotel room, click the link to the online hotel registration page. If none is available for your selected seminar, please fill out our hotel request form or contact our office at 800-487-5650. Please note that hotel rooms are not confirmed until you receive confirmation from the hotel (if you booked online thru our group link) or from our office for hotels that do not offer the online link.
IVS is now required by AAVSB RACE to upload your completed attendance into their “RACEtrack” system. Your state of license and your license number are required for all seminars starting in January 2022. More information is available at https://www.aavsb.org/ce-
Early Bird: $1095.00
Advanced: $1115.00
Regular: $1135.00
Special Pricing:
Veterinary Technicians receive an $80 discount using promo code “techsaver”. Enter the code during checkout in the submit promotion code box.
For International Travel
Passport requirements for international travel
Please note that all passengers traveling by air to or from the United States will be required to hold a valid passport. This requirement applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens, traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
When planning international travel, please be sure that you are in possession of all required documents for both outbound and return flights. Remember to allow ample time for acquiring official travel documents.
For complete information on the U.S. Department of State’s New Travel Initiative Requirements, please visit travel.state.gov.
Pricing
A valid credit is required to guarantee your room. You have up to 21 days prior to cancel without penalty. You will be charged for your complete scheduled stay if you cancel within 21 days of your scheduled arrival, or are a no-show, or depart early.
Global Vet Community Meets CE Experiences
IVS trips are designed to meet your CE requirements while offering a break from traditional, conference-style learning. With focused half-day sessions, small-group learning, and destinations worth the journey, IVS creates close-knit communities where education feels both engaging and rewarding.
Earn Your CE Credits
IVS makes it easy — and worth the trip — to keep your CE hours current. Each trip includes 12–18 CE credit hours, along with access to a dedicated portal where certificates and trip details are easy to find when you need them.
Explore the World
Choose from 50+ destinations worldwide, including classic travel locations and Bio Bio adventure trips. No matter the setting, IVS seminars are structured to support focused learning in an environment that feels immersive — not overwhelming.
Connect With Your Community
IVS brings together veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and leading specialists in intentionally small groups. Designed for shared experience and meaningful discussion, these seminars foster professional connections that last well beyond your trip.
Get More from Every Trip
With points earned for every trip you attend, bonuses for referring friends, and a convenient user portal for tracking and seminar details, IVS makes earning your CE credits even more rewarding.
Postcards from Our Trips
From close to home to destinations abroad, hear what veterinary professionals are saying about their IVS experience.
The speakers were excellent, as were the accommodations. I love coming to IVS Seminars.”
I enjoyed this conference VERY much! The speakers were engaging and superb. I had a surgery day this past Tuesday and have implemented several of their pearls of knowledge!”
The trip was just perfect! My husband and I loved every minute.”
Thank you for a great conference! This was my first IVS experience, and it was great. … I’m hoping to arrange a trip for my vet school friends (11 of us total) in the future.”
I enjoyed the seminar. IVS [is] still the best CE in my opinion. Great venue also.”
Thank you for putting on a fantastic program in Cabo!”
Thank you. I always enjoy the CE experience IVS provides.”
Good to Know Before You Go
Registration is simple. Browse upcoming seminars using the search on our homepage, then click through to the seminar page and complete registration online. You will receive an email confirmation once your registration is complete, and a separate email confirming your payment. Please keep both for your records. You can also call our office at 1-800-487-5650 to register by phone.
IVS holds group space at each seminar venue and handles hotel bookings on your behalf. You can book accommodations at the same time as your seminar registration or separately — whichever you prefer.
On your selected seminar’s page, click the Accommodations tab and scroll down to the Book Accommodations button. Please note: if you need a room outside the standard seminar dates, availability will need to be confirmed with the hotel. Hotel bookings made through our site are not automatic and require some processing time. Once confirmed, you will receive a hotel confirmation letter from IVS by email. All hotels require a credit card to guarantee your booking, and cut-off dates apply — early registration is always advised. Our team is available at 1-800-487-5650, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm PST.
10% of the registration fee is non-refundable. If you cancel more than 30 days before the seminar start date, you may choose a refund of the remaining 90% or a Future Transfer Credit (FTC). If you cancel within 30 days, only a Future Transfer Credit is issued. The FTC can be applied to any future IVS seminar within 2 years of your cancellation date; it is forfeited if not used within that window. To cancel, you must contact our office and receive email confirmation of your cancellation before the seminar begins. Cancellations requested after the seminar has started, or without email confirmation on file, will forfeit the full registration fee. Please also note that cancellations will remove any Loyalty Program points earned from that registration.
IVS specializes in small group seminars — usually fewer than 80 people per seminar. Most veterinarians appreciate the smaller setting, as it allows for more interaction with speakers and other participants and gives everyone a chance to get their questions answered.
International Veterinary Seminars is an AAVSB RACE-approved provider of CE, which is accepted by all state boards throughout the US and Canada. We are provider #13 and are also an approved provider in New York State. Please contact your state board or our office with any questions. For more information, visit the AAVSB RACE program website.
Where will your learning take you?
Discover a different way to earn your veterinary CE. Explore upcoming trips to find an IVS seminar set in a destination you’ll want to stay awhile.