Dr. Claudio Bussadori
DVM,Dipl. ECVIM (cardiology) MD PhD
& Gran Sasso Clinical Team
September 18–20, 2025 · Shanghai, China
Course Overview
Master Key Interventional Cardiology Procedures in Small Animals
Led by Dr. Claudio Bussadori, one of Europe's most influential cardiologists and the director of Gran Sasso Veterinary Clinic, this 2.5-day program is an immersive, skills-based training in cardiovascular intervention.
Participants will explore the complete workflow—from cath lab setup and device selection to hands-on execution of PDA closure, pulmonary/aortic stenosis correction, and pacemaker implantation.
The course combines comprehensive online theoretical preparation with hands-on in-person practice in a real surgical environment, offering a full-spectrum experience for veterinarians aiming to advance in interventional cardiology.
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 from Gran Sasso Veterinary Clinic
Dr.Claudio Bussadori leads a highly specialized team, bringing extensive experience in thousands of complex interventional cases. Additional instructors include specialists in anesthesia, imaging, and cardiac surgery.
✅ 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.
Curriculum
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
★ Day 1 - Practical Session
Practical session of Trasnsesofageal echocardiography
★ Day 2/3 - Practical Session
● Pacemaker implantations
● Occluder Device Implantation and Deployment
● 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
Instructor
Dr. Claudio Bussadori
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. Davide Gamba
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.
Dr. Melissa Papa
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. 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
Payment Method
· Bank Transfer (CNY / EURO / USD / HKD)
· Alipay
Course Fee
Course on Cardiovascular Intervention | 3200 USD |
Cancellation & Refund Policy
· More than 10 days before the course: 90% of the tuition will be refunded. Within 10 days before the course: Only 50% of the tuition will be refunded. Alternatively, your spot can be transferred to another participant.
· In case of course-related changes (e.g. rescheduling or venue change), a full refund can be requested. No additional compensation will be provided.
· Refunds are typically processed within one month. Thank you for your patience.
· If an invoice is required, please submit your request within 3 months after the course ends. Invoices must be issued within the same calendar year as the tuition payment. No refunds will be processed once an invoice has been issued.
