Neurologic Emergencies: Stay Calm, Cool and Collected
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Karen Kline, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Karen Kline, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Dr. Karen Kline is currently performing a hybrid role between VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists and Washington State University of College of Veterinary Medicine. Previously, she was a Neurologist at Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle from 2008 to 2019 and Medical Director at Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle from 2013 through 2018 respectively. She received her DVM degree from the The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989 and completed a rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City in 1990. She stayed at AMC and completed her neurology residency in 1993 and stayed on a year as staff neurologist until 1994. In 1994, she became board certified in veterinary neurology through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine that same year. From 1995 through 2008, Dr. Kline was an associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine. While there she obtained her Master of Science degree in veterinary pathology and completed her thesis on Immunohistochemical Differentiation of Canine Inflammatory and Infectious diseases. She has published multiple journal articles, has been an author in several veterinary textbooks and has spoken at local, national and international meetings. She obtained her certification in veterinary acupuncture in 2000. Her special interests are neurosurgery, inflammatory and infectious central nervous system diseases and spinal cord injury and therapeutics. Dr. Kline has always enjoyed the Pacific Northwest and enjoys spending her free time with her husband, and dog extraordinaire, Voodie.
Overview:
This lecture will discuss the hot topic of neurologic emergencies and how to react to and deal with them in a calm, cool and efficient manner. Types of neurologic emergencies, the importance of the neurologic examination as well as neurolocalization when dealing with a neurologic emergency will be discussed as well as diagnostic and treatment strategies. The practitioner will be refamiliarized with drugs used to treat the acute neurologic patient and parameters used to follow the status of the emergent neurologic patient. Prognostication will also be discussed and how imperative it is to neurolocalize quickly and confidently. Tips and tricks will be discussed to help the practitioner become more confident in dealing with the acutely neurologic patient and how to make the process easier to understand.
List of items to be discussed:
1) The importance of history taking2) Determining the diagnostic and treatment steps for the patient with a neurologic emergency
3) Determining prognostication for a patient with a neurologic emergency
Learning Objectives:
- The attendee will gain an understanding of the power of neurolocalization
- The attendee will gain an understanding of how to diagnose and treat neurologic emergencies and to develop a prognostic message for the owner
- The attendee will gain an understanding of the importance of a team approach to the treatment of neurologic emergencies
This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
