Animal Use on the UIUC Campus
Policies Pertaining to the Care and Use
of Animals in Research and Teaching



Policy On Rodent Survival Surgery

Reference(s):

  • Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide), NRC, 1996

Policy:

Aseptic surgical procedures must be used for survival surgery of rodents as well as other laboratory animals. A separate room used primarily for aseptic procedures is desirable; however, the campus Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) may approve performing survival rodent surgical procedures in certain laboratory settings using aseptic technique. The following minimum standards for aseptic procedures have been adopted by the IACUC and the Division of Animal Resources (DAR):

  1. A dedicated, clean, uncluttered work area and a sanitized work surface;
  2. Appropriate preparation of the surgical site, including removal of the fur and adequate disinfection of the skin;
  3. The use of sterile instruments, supplies and wound closure materials;
  4. Draping the surgical site with sterile drapes to avoid contamination of the incision, instruments and supplies;
  5. Sterile surgical gloves and surgical mask and cap worn by the surgeon and any assistants working in the immediate surgical field.
  6. A clean lab coat, surgical gown or other attire to replace or cover street clothing.
  7. Use of operative techniques which avoid contamination of sterile instruments and gloves and reduce the likelihood of infection.

Surgical procedures may be performed on multiple rodents during a single session using one sterile surgical pack, providing that:

  1. Care is taken to minimize contamination; and
  2. Instruments are soaked in an approved sterilant observing recommended exposure times and rinsed in sterile saline, heated in a hot bead sterilizer, or flamed with 95% alcohol between animals.

Post-operative monitoring and suture removal following wound healing are important post-surgical considerations. These must be described in the animal use protocol and adhere to guidelines in the current NRC Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Post-operative analgesia must be in accordance with the campus Policy on the Use of Sedatives, Analgesics and Anesthetics in Laboratory Animals.

Approved March 1999