Regulatory guidelines and standards of adequate veterinary care impose certain requirements for surgical procedures performed on vertebrate animals. These responsibilities are the Principal Investigator's. However, each NCSU animal resource unit has an attending veterinarian who should be consulted, during the planning stage for experimental surgical procedures. Assistance with experimental surgery, anesthesia, and postoperative care is available from CVM Laboratory Animal Resources (Attending Veterinarian: Dr. Gabriel McKeon 919-513-6638 or ) or through the CVM Central Procedures Laboratory (919- 513-6486 or ).

General

All procedures involving major survival surgery in vertebrate animals must be performed using proper aseptic technique. Any person performing surgery should be appropriately trained prior to work on live animals. This training must be documented within the approved IACUC animal use protocol. Labs are encouraged to keep more detailed records regarding personnel training on specific procedures within the approved protocol. Individuals that need training from LAR staff should contact one of the above individuals.

Surgery Area

  • Non-rodent mammals undergoing survival surgery require a dedicated surgical room. This area should be physically separated from the location where the animal is clipped and prepped for surgery.
  • Rodents undergoing survival surgery do not require a dedicated surgical room; however, there should be a designated preparation area within the room separated either spatially or temporally from the surgical area.

Instrument Preparation

All instruments used in survival surgeries should be sterilized prior to each procedure – preferably with an autoclave for reusable instruments. Other methods are acceptable as follows:

  • Cold sterilants may be used if manufacturer’s instructions are followed and the instruments are properly rinsed prior to contacting the patient.
  • Hot bead sterilization is acceptable in certain circumstances (e.g. rodent survival surgery conducted on multiple animals in a day). A “tips only” technique may be used – more details can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2587003/ or by contacting those listed in the opening paragraph of this document directly.
  • Other methods approved within the IACUC protocol on a case-by-case basis.

Patient Preparation

  • All hair must be removed from the anticipated surgical site, leaving extra room to prevent accidental contact with the sterile surgical field.
  • Animals must be aseptically prepped prior to surgery – typically involving three alternating scrubs of providone-iodine (or another appropriate disinfectant) and 70% alcohol.
  • For procedures lasting more than 30 minutes, supplemental heat should be provided to prevent hypothermia – especially in smaller patients, such as rodents. Additionally, sterile eye lubrication should be provided to prevent corneal desiccation.
  • In order to preserve a sterile field and avoid surgical site contamination, the prepared area should be draped or otherwise protected from potential contamination.

Surgeon Preparation

  • For major survival surgeries in non-rodent mammals, a dedicated surgeon preparatory sink should be available for aseptically preparing hands and arms.
  • Minimum surgical attire should include sterile surgical gloves, cap, mask, and sterile surgical gown.
  • For major survival surgeries on rodents and non-mammalian vertebrates, surgeons should thoroughly clean hands and don sterile surgical gloves. In some instances (e.g. “tips only” technique), sterile gloves are not required; however, this requires specific training in this particular aseptic technique.

Last Revised 1/25/18