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UCSF IACUC GUIDELINES FOR RODENT SURGERY (Revised
June 2009, January 2005, June 2004, May 2004; originally posted September
2001)
Scope:
These guidelines apply to all surgical procedures
performed on rodents.
SURVIVAL SURGERY
Any surgery conducted on animals that are expected to recover from anesthesia is considered survival surgery.
General:
Survival surgery on rodents should be performed using sterile
instruments and sutures, sterile surgical gloves, masks and aseptic
procedures to reduce
microbial contamination of exposed tissues to the lowest practical
level.
Please see the Aseptic Procedures for Rodent
Survival Surgery page for more detail in regards to aseptic technique for this
type of surgery.
PROCEDURES
Pre-Operative:
| 1. |
Surgery should be conducted in a disinfected, uncluttered area, which
promotes asepsis during surgery. |
| 2. |
If appropriate, prepare the animal by removing hair from the surgical
site. Perform this procedure in an area separate from where the surgery
is to be conducted. |
| 3. |
Put ophthalmic ointment in the rodent’s eyes, to prevent the
corneas from drying out. |
| 4. |
Prepare the surgical site(s) with an appropriate skin disinfectant,
such as diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine. Alcohol is not an adequate
disinfectant, and its evaporation may lead to hypothermia in rodents. |
| 5. |
Surgeons should don a surgical mask, bonnet, and clean lab coat,
and then wash and dry their hands before aseptically donning sterile
surgical gloves. (See Aseptic Techniques
for Rodent Surgery guidelines for the exception to sterile gloves). |
Operative:
| 1. |
Keep animal warm on a low-temperature heating pad. |
| 2. |
The animal must be maintained in a surgical plane of anesthesia
throughout the procedure, which is commonly assessed by a lack of
response to a pinch of the webbing between the toes. |
| 3. |
Monitor and/or maintain the animal's vital signs, including respiration,
skin or mucous membrane color and lack of responsiveness. |
| 4. |
Begin surgery with sterile instruments and handle them aseptically.
(Guidelines) |
| 5. |
Instruments and gloves may be used for a series of similar surgeries
provided they are disinfected between animals. A hot glass bead sterilizer
should be used to sterilize the instruments between animals, and gloves
may be sprayed with a bleach solution or other suitable disinfectant.
Gloves should be changed if they are soiled during surgery. |
| 6. |
Close surgical wounds using appropriate techniques and materials. |
| 7. |
Administer analgesics while the animal is anesthetized or per the
IACUC-approved protocol. |
Post-Operative:
| 1. |
Move the animal to a warm, dry area and monitor it during recovery.
Return the animal to its routine housing only after it has fully recovered
from anesthesia. |
| 2. |
It is recommended that the animal’s recovery cage be placed
halfway on a low-temperature heating pad, so it may choose its level
of heat. |
| 3. |
Administer analgesics per the IACUC-approved protocol.
LARC
recommended doses |
| 4. |
Remove skin closures 10 to 14 days post-operatively (exceptions
must be described in the IACUC-approved protocol). Exception: female
mice that undergo surgery for embryo transplantation may have their
wound clips left in until their pups have been weaned. |
| 5. |
Separate individual surgery and anesthesia records are not generally
required for rodents, but documentation of which animals received
anesthesia, surgery, post-surgical analgesics and monitoring is required.
When animals share a cage, one record per cage may suffice. See IACUC training materials for further detail. |
NON-SURVIVAL (TERMINAL) SURGERY
Any surgery conducted on animals that are not allowed to regain consciousness is considered non-survival surgery. This includes terminal vascular perfusion.
- No expired drugs or fluids are allowed.
- Non-survival surgeries require neither aseptic technique nor dedicated facilities, if the subjects are not anesthetized long enough to show evidence of infection.
- Non-survival surgeries not performed aseptically or in a dedicated facility must at least be performed in a clean area, free of clutter.
- Personnel present in the area must observe reasonable cleanliness practices for both themselves and the animals.
- The IACUC must approve monitoring parameters for this type of surgery. In the approved protocol, the Principal Investigator must describe the length of the procedure and steps taken to minimize the possibility of infection.
- The method of euthanasia should be consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia (June 2007) and must be listed in the approved IACUC protocol.
Sources for Surgery Supplies:
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