IACUC Guideline 8 - Rodent Surgery Guidelines

These guidelines outline the requirements for conducting surgery on rodents at Penn State. Specific recommendations for adhering to these guidelines are provided in the Penn State Rodent Surgery Training materials. Any deviations must be specifically approved by the IACUC.

Required Training for Personnel Performing Rodent Surgery:

Penn State employees and students must have completed all required training prior to performing surgical procedures on live research animals. The principle investigator is responsible for insuring that personnel in his or her lab have completed required training and are competent to perform surgery.

The following materials are provided to familiarize personnel with expectations and procedures for conducting rodent surgery at Penn State.

• IACUC Rodent Surgery Guidelines (this document)
• The NIH "Training in Survival Rodent Surgery" CD
• Penn State Rodent Surgery Training

Anesthesia:

Surgical procedures which may cause more than momentary pain or distress must be performed under anesthesia. The selection of an anesthetic regimen is based on the type of procedure to be performed, species of animal used, compatibility with the experimental design and availability of appropriate equipment/facilities. The IACUC at Penn State requires veterinary consultation in the selection of anesthesia. Monitoring of the animal's condition and assessment of anesthetic depth should occur at regular intervals throughout the procedure.

Analgesia:

Analgesic medication must be provided to animals that are likely to experience post procedural pain. Any exceptions must be specifically approved by the IACUC. Pain adversely impacts the welfare of animals and if not controlled, is a variable that can confound the interpretation of experimental results. Investigators are responsible for the assessment and management of pain in their research animals and must include a plan for pain management in their IACUC protocol.

Record Keeping:

Investigators are responsible for maintaining accurate records of anesthesia, surgery and post-operative care (including analgesic administration). These records serve as documentation that the procedures were conducted humanely by appropriately trained individuals. The records should be completed at the time of the surgical procedure and provide sufficient information to allow the reader to determine what was done to the animal, when it was conducted, by who, and include documentation of appropriate anesthetic/analgesic administration. Records of post procedural care must provide documentation of daily observations and notation of abnormal findings. Medical records should be kept in the animal room or an accessible area nearby. The IACUC routinely reviews surgical records during semiannual inspections.

Aseptic Technique:

Survival surgery on rodents must be performed using aseptic technique. Surgical instruments are typically steam sterilized in an autoclave. The use of alternative methods of sterilization such as gas (Ethylene oxide), chemical, or hot bead sterilization should be discussed with the veterinarian. A sterilization indicator should used to identify properly sterilized instruments. Surgical preparation of the patient includes hair removal and scrubbing the surgical site. Appropriate surgical attire includes sterile surgical gloves, a surgical mask, and a clean lab coat or gown. It is expected that aseptic technique will be used throughout the procedure and that contaminated articles will be replace as necessary.

Location for Surgery:

The area where surgery is conducted should be uncluttered and easily disinfected. The area should be dedicated to surgery during the procedure but may be used for other purposes when not being used for surgery. Patient preparation (fur removal) should take place in a location separated from the surgical area.

Post-operative Care:

Immediate Post-operative Period:

Animals recovering from anesthesia must be observed by trained personnel until they regain sternal recumbency (ability to maintain a body position of resting on the chest or sternum without aid). Hypothermia is a major cause ofpost-operative death in rodents and can be avoided by providing a source of heat during surgery and recovery. Heat lamps and heating pads may be used to warm rodents. Electric heating pads are not recommended as hot spots may result in skin bums. Care should be exercised to insure that rodents are not overheated.

Long Term Post-operative Care:

Daily post-operative monitoring must continue until the surgical wound is healed. Personnel should be instructed on how to monitor the animals and how to handle complications. The post-operative care plan described in the IACUC protocol must include specific parameters that will be used to monitor post-operative health in the animals and endpoints for removal of animals from the study.