Courses Overview
Dr. Claudio Bussadori
DVM,Dipl. ECVIM (cardiology) MD PhD
Dr.Kieran Borgeat
BSc BVSc MVetMed CertVC FHEA FRCVS DipACVIM DipECVIM-CA
Dr.Danilo Caristi
Working at the Gran Sasso Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Melissa Papa
DipECVIM-CA
Dr. Davide Gamba
Head of the anesthesia and pain therapy operational unit of the Gran Sasso Veterinary Clinic
February 5–7, 2026 · Shanghai, China
Course Overview
Building on the original recorded theoretical modules, the course now includes an additional half-day of on-site theoretical instruction delivered by Dr. Kieran Borgeat. This session focuses on both conceptual understanding and real-time demonstration, covering:
Introduction to Cardiovascular Interventional Surgery Materials (On-site demonstration)
Brief Overview of Common Cardiovascular Interventional Procedures, including:
Interventional treatment of Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Interventional procedures for Pulmonic Stenosis (PS)
Interventional procedures for Aortic Stenosis (AS)
Pacemaker implantations
Interventional treatment of systemic-to-pulmonary collaterals
The theoretical framework is further reinforced by in-depth recorded lectures led by Dr. Claudio Bussadori, one of Europe's most influential veterinary cardiologists, together with Dr. Melissa Papa and Dr. Davide Gamba from the renowned Gran Sasso Veterinary Clinic.
Hands-On Training
The practical component emphasizes real-world application and technical mastery. Dr. Claudio Bussadori will perform live interventional demonstrations, while Dr. Kieran Borgeat and Dr. Danilo Caristi provide close, step-by-step supervision and hands-on coaching throughout the lab sessions.
Participants will develop structured expertise in cath lab organization, imaging-guided diagnosis, device selection, and interventional execution, with focused training in PDA closure, correction of pulmonic and aortic stenosis, and pacemaker implantation—ensuring both procedural confidence and clinical precision.
What You'll Learn
● How to manage a cardiovascular cath lab, including patient & equipment prep
● Vascular access: techniques, devices, and procedural decision-making
● TEE (transesophageal echocardiography) for interventional guidance
● Interventional approaches for PDA, PS, AS, and systemic-pulmonary collaterals
● Pacemaker implantation and post-op programming
● Balloon valvuloplasty techniques, occluder deployment, catheter-based procedures
Key Features
✅ Real-World Practice Environment
Hands-on labs are conducted at MicroPort Scientific Corporation, Shanghai, simulating true cath lab conditions with full interventional setups. Participants will work directly with occluders, introducers, guidewires, and TEE equipment.
✅ Elite Teaching Team
Dr. Claudio Bussadori – Hands-on Demonstration
Dr. Kieran Borgeat – Lead instructor for in-person hands-on labs
Dr. Danilo Caristi – On-site Practical Training
Dr. Melissa Papa – Online Theory Part
Dr. Davide Gamba – Online Theory Part
✅ Small Group, Full Equipment Access
All hands-on labs are performed in small rotating groups, ensuring every participant gets meaningful hands-on time and real-time coaching.
International Association for Veterinary Interventional and Minimally Invasive Therapy (IAVIMI) is a professional community organization initiated and established by EAVSI & APVSI, focusing on interventional veterinary techniques.
Now we are officially recruiting founding members!
Click to learn more!
Curriculum
Day 1 - Theory Part （with Dr. Kieran Borgeat）
Theory：Introduction to Cardiovascular Interventional Surgery Materials (On-Site Demonstration)
Theory: Brief Overview of Common Cardiovascular Interventional Procedures:
1）Interventional procedure for PDA
2）Interventional Procedure for Pulmonic Stenosis (PS)
3）Interventional Procedure for Aortic Stenosis (AS)
4）Pacemaker implantations
5）Interventional Procedure for systemic to pulmonary collaterals
★ Day 1 - Practical Session
Practical session of Trasnsesofageal echocardiography
1) Instructor demonstration
2) Group practice, with the instructor providing guidance in rotation
★ Day 2 a.m- Hands-on Demonstration (with Dr. Claudio Bussadori & Dr.Kieran Borgeat & Dr.Danilo Caristi)
● Pacemaker implantations (Electrode implantation only)
● Catheter-Based Balloon Dilation
Surgical preparation
1) How to isolate artery and veins
2) How to position a vascular introducer
Catheterization and angiography
1) How to maneuver catheter and guidewire
2) How to catheterize right side of the heart until the pulmonary artery
3) How to perform a pulmonary ballon valvuloplasty
4) How to catheterize the LV trough femoral artery and carotid artery
★ Day 2 p.m&Day 3- Hands-on Practice (with Dr.Kieran Borgeat & Dr.Danilo Caristi)
● Pacemaker implantations (Electrode implantation only)
● Catheter-Based Balloon Dilation
Surgical preparation
1) How to isolate artery and veins
2) How to position a vascular introducer
Catheterization and angiography
1) How to maneuver catheter and guidewire
2) How to catheterize right side of the heart until the pulmonary artery
3) How to perform a pulmonary ballon valvuloplasty
4) How to catheterize the LV trough femoral artery and carotid artery
Online Theory(14 Recorded Classes)
Dr. Claudio Bussadori ( Recorded Classes )
Organization of the Cath Lab Room
● Patient preparation, Room preparation, List of essential instruments
Materials and equipment
● Vascular introducer, Catheters, Guidewires, Special connectors
● General overview of the devices utilized for structural heart diseases
Vascular access
● Percutaneous vs cut-down approach (advantages disadvantages)
● How to select the material and how to do
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
● TEE for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease and the guidance of interventional procedures.
Selective angiography when and how
● The contrast media, Dedicated catheters
● Physic principle and use of the angiographic pump
Echo-contrast: The Bubble Studies
● How to prepare and use sonified saline solutions to understand the anatomy and function of some structural anomalies
Interventional procedure for PDA
● Patient Selection
● Device available for PDA: characteristics and criteria for choosing
● ACDO Technique of placement
● Multimodality imaging for monitoring the procedure
● Vet PDA coil Occluder and AVP II for small dogs and cats Technique of placement
Interventional Procedure for systemic to pulmonary collaterals
● Selection of Patients
● Dynamic anatomy imaging to study the septal defect
● Selection of Device Type and Size
● Technique of placement of the device
Interventional Procedure for Pulmonic Stenosis (PS)
● Patient evaluation, dynamic anatomy imaging to study the obstruction type
● Decision making for the approach
● Single Ballon, Double Ballon, Cutting Ballon + High pressure Ballon Stenting
Interventional Procedure for Aortic Stenosis (AS)
● Patient evaluation, dynamic anatomy imaging to study the valvular structure
● Tecnique of the procedure
Dr. Melissa Papa ( Recorded Classes )
Pacemaker implantations
● Indications and procedural techniques, and recommendations for postoperative checks.
Pacemaker Programming and Follow-Up
Dr. Davide Gamba ( Recorded Classes )
Pressure measurements when and how
● Equipment and procedures
Anesthesia and hemodynamic monitoring and management of intraprocedural and postoperative complications ICU management for intervention and hybrid cardiac surgery
Instructor
Dr. Claudio Bussadori
(Online Theory Part)
DVM,Dipl. ECVIM (cardiology) MD PhD
National Scientific Qualification as full professor in Veterinary Internal Medicine and Pharmacology. 2016 (D.D. 1532/2016). Numeric indicators: Median exceeded 3/3.
Director of the “Clinica Veterinaria Gran Sasso” Milano Italy
Director of an ECVIM Residency program (Cardiology) at Clinica Veterinaria Gran Sasso
Honorary member of the ESVC
Served as ESVC (European Society of Veterinary Cardiology) president, ECVIM (European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine) vice president.
230 papers published on Medical and Veterinary journals including original articles, and book chapters.
Editor of “Textbook of cardiovascular medicine in dogs and cats” © 2023 Edra Publishing ISBN: 978-1-957260-46-4
Speaker and instructor in various international meetings, Universities and private Institutions.
Dr.Kieran Borgeat
(On-site Practical Training )
BSc BVSc MVetMed CertVC FHEA FRCVS DipACVIM DipECVIM-CA
Bachelor of Science BSc Zoology
Bachelor of Veterinary Science BVSc
Certificate in Veterinary Cardiology
ACVIM Diploma in Veterinary Cardiology
ECVIM Diploma in Veterinary Cardiology
Author of several publications. primary focused on cardiovascular medicine.
Dr.Danilo Caristi
Working at the Gran Sasso Veterinary Clinic carrying out activities of Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine and Soft Tissue Surgery
Undergoing advanced training in Soft Tissue Surgery, Laparoscopy, and Thoracoscopy under Dr. Roberto Bussadori
Dr. Melissa Papa
(Online Theory)
Dr. Melissa Papa graduated cum laude in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Milan in 2016.
Following the completion of a rotating internship, she undertook a one-year specialized internship in cardiology under the supervision of Dr. Claudio Bussadori at Clinica Veterinaria Gran Sasso (Milan).
Since February 2018, she has been coordinator of the “Progetto Cardiopatie” with Dr. Bussadori, a project focused on cardiologic screening in purebred-dogs in Italy.
Since 2019, she works in the Cardiology and Ultrasound Department at Clinica Veterinaria Gran Sasso, where she is actively involved in clinical practice and advanced diagnostic imaging, and collaborates in interventional cardiology.
She has been a speaker at national and international congresses in cardiology sessions and is author and co-author of papers published in scientific journals.
From 2021 to 2024, she completed the ECVIM-CA (Cardiology) Residency Program under the supervision of Dr. Claudio Bussadori.
In 2025, she obtained the title of European Diplomate in Cardiology from the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM-CA, Cardiology)
Dr. Davide Gamba
(Online Theory Part)
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine at Parma in 2004.
In the last 20 years has directed anesthesia and pain therapy department in various clinics and institution
Head of the anesthesia and pain therapy operational unit of the Gran Sasso Veterinary Clinic in Milan.
His special interest is the management of cardiac patients in anesthesia and critical care.
Payment Method
· Bank Transfer (CNY / EURO / USD / HKD)
· Alipay
Course Fee
Course on Cardiovascular Intervention | 3200 USD |
Online Theory Part | 1000 USD |
