UCSF GUIDELINES FOR SURGERY ON NON-RODENT MAMMALS INCLUDING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SURGERY SUITES UNDER ASEPTIC CONDITIONS (Revised October 2007)

Scope:

These guidelines apply to all surgical procedures performed on mammals other than rodents.

General:

Survival surgery on non-rodent mammals must be performed using sterile instruments, sterile surgical gloves, masks, and aseptic procedures as described in the Animal Welfare Act section 2:31d(ix) and conforming to provisions outlined in USDA Policy 3.

• Activities that involve surgery must include appropriate provision for pre-operative and post-operative care of the animals in accordance with established veterinary medical and nursing practices.
• Major operative procedures on non-rodents will be conducted only in facilities intended for that purpose which shall be operated and maintained under aseptic conditions during surgery.
• When not in use for major survival surgery, such facilities can be employed for minor survival surgery, non-survival surgery, and other laboratory research with specific IACUC approval.
• It is acceptable to use a survival surgical space to make or adjust tools or other devices relating to the operative procedures.
• Procedures that clearly describe the steps taken to prepare the areas for major operative survival surgery must be outlined, approved by the IACUC, and posted in the room (laminated or placed in a plastic sleeve).
• These guidelines for preparation of the facility must conform to the standards outlined below.

The surgical team for major survival surgery in non-rodent mammals should include at least one person whose duties include monitoring and documenting anesthesia.

Major surgery (or major operative procedure):

Any surgical intervention that penetrates and exposes a body cavity or any procedure that produces substantial or permanent impairment of physical or physiological functions is considered major surgery.

Multiple major survival surgeries require scientific justification in the approved IACUC protocol.

Surgical Facility:

Wherever feasible, furniture and equipment not intended to be used during survival surgery shall be removed from the immediate surgical area or covered.

• Items on countertops or open shelves in the immediate surgical area that are not intended to be used during the surgical-experimental procedure shall be placed into non-porous containers.
• The floor and all exposed work surfaces shall be disinfected prior to major survival surgery. Walls, ceilings, light covers and equipment shall be maintained clean and disinfected as necessary to prevent contamination of the surgical field.
• During surgery, the space close enough to the surgical field to reasonably generate contamination of the field should contain only surgical/experimental equipment, sterilized surgical instruments, and sterile items necessary to the surgical and experimental procedures.

Minor or non-major surgery:

Minor surgery does not expose a major body cavity and causes temporary or no physical impairment. The IACUC may require some minor surgical procedures to be performed with procedures and facilities suitable for major surgery.

Non-major survival surgery (e.g., intravascular cannula insertion, wound suturing, CSF collection, intracerebral inoculations and joint fluid collection) must be performed using aseptic procedures, but do not require a dedicated surgical facility. The room should be clean and well organized and conform to accepted standards of veterinary care.

Non-survival (terminal) surgery:

Any surgery or procedure conducted on animals that are not allowed to regain consciousness is considered non-survival surgery.

• 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. Eating or drinking is not acceptable in surgery areas.
• 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.

PROCEDURES FOR SURVIVAL SURGERY OF NON-RODENT MAMMALS

Pre-Operative:

1. 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. Perform the initial surgical scrub at this time.
2. Prepare the surgical site(s) with an appropriate skin disinfectant after the animal has been positioned for surgery.
3. Surgeons must don surgical masks and hair covers, then wash and dry their hands before aseptically donning sterile surgical gloves.
4. A separate sterilized instrument pack must be used for each animal.

Operative procedures:

1. All procedures must be performed as per the approved protocol in an IACUC approved area. The animal must be maintained at an appropriate plane of anesthesia throughout the procedure. Guidelines on anesthesia
2. Monitoring and documentation during the operative procedure must be as in the approved protocol.
3. Surgical wounds must be closed using appropriate techniques and sterile materials.

Post-Operative:

1. All postoperative care, monitoring, and documentation must be according to the approved protocol.
2. Animals must be closely attended during recovery until righting reflexes have returned.
3. Generally, remove non-absorbable external skin closures 10 to 14 days post-operatively
4. Maintain surgery, anesthesia and post-operative care records. Click for further details.

References

1. Animal Welfare Regulations (2002). United States Department of Agriculture. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Parts 1-4. Especially parts 2.31(d)(ix) and 2.38 (k)(1).
2. Animal Care Policies (2002). United States Department of Agriculture. Animal Care Resource Guide (2002). Policy # 3, Veterinary Care.

Current versions of these references may be found on the USDA Animal Care website.