Survival Surgical ProceduresThe Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee have set minimum standards for animal operating rooms and laboratories in which surgery is performed. The standards are based on the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The standards are meant to ensure that surgical procedures are performed in an appropriate environment using good surgical techniques. Rodents These standards apply to all mammalian species. Aseptic technique (e.g., surgical gloves, mask and sterile instruments) should be used for surgical procedures on rodents such as rats and mice; however, the standards for the surgical facility are not as rigid. Rodent surgical areas may be a separate room or portion of a room. The area should be clean and orderly and should not be used for any other purpose during the time of the surgical activity. Animal housing areas may not be used for surgical procedures. Non-survival Procedure Non-survival surgical procedures may be performed in general purpose laboratories provided the rules outlined below are followed: The surgical site should be clipped, the surgeon should wear gloves, and the instruments and surrounding area should be clean. The use of a survival surgical area for non-survival surgery is satisfactory provided the rules regarding survival surgery are followed, and the room is properly sanitized following the procedure. Any other laboratory outside of those designated for survival surgery CANNOT be used for survival surgical procedures in animals other than rodents. Aseptic Technique Aseptic technique, including aseptic preparation of the skin, sterilization of instruments, and wearing sterile gloves and masks (gowns and caps when appropriate), is necessary when performing survival surgery on all animals. Operating suites should not be used for eating, drinking or smoking. Personnel performing the surgery should have formal training in operative procedures and aseptic technique or have acceptable career experience approved by the IACUC. Anesthetics and Analgesics Information concerning types, dosages and routes of administration of anesthetics and analgesics is available from members of the Program. Anesthetic techniques and use of post-operative analgesia should be in accordance with current methods in the literature and approved by the IACUC. Inquiries may be directed to Veterinary Resources. Records must be maintained of the anesthetics used, amounts, dates, procedures and animal species. If volatile anesthetic gases are used, a gas evacuation and scavenging system is necessary. Analgesic- If any particular procedure performed on animals would cause pain or discomfort if performed on a human then the animal should receive similar consideration in the form of analgesics. Post-Operative Care The investigator is primarily responsible for postoperative care and record keeping for animals until the animal is eating, drinking, and behaving normally. Immediate postoperative care should be provided in a dedicated recovery area with close observation and the animal should not be left until it can reach sternal recumbency. In the days following the procedure, the animal should be monitored and observed, as necessary, to insure the animal is recovering normally. Analgesics should be administered if there is any question of pain; incisions should be checked daily; bandages should be changed when wet, soiled, or coming off; supportive treatment should be provided when indicated (parenteral fluids, antibiotics); and sutures should be removed (7-14 days generally). For all species (except rodent), individual surgical records and post procedural records must be made and kept by the investigator. Multiple Major Surgical Procedure Major surgery is defined as surgery, which penetrates and exposes a body cavity or produces substantial impairment of physical or physiologic function. Multiple major survival surgery is described as more than one major survival surgical procedure performed on a single animal. Multiple major survival surgical procedures may be performed on the same animal only if they are related components of a project and have been reviewed and approved by the IACUC. Multiple major survival surgery on animals for economic purposes alone is not acceptable according to the NIH Guide. Euthanasia Proper methods of euthanasia should be used at the termination of the experiment. The methods used should be documented. A record must be kept of the amounts, date, and animal species when restricted drugs such as sodium pentobarbital are used for euthanasia. |
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Last updated 04/28/2008 |
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