Surgery - Non-Survival Surgery (Guideline)

Guidelines: The IACUC has provided a set of guidance documents (Policies, Guidelines, and Informational Sheets) for use when planning animal procedures at the University of Iowa. An exception to a Guideline must be described and justified in the Animal Protocol and approved during the normal review process.
Non-Survival Surgery

Purpose:  The purpose of these guidelines is to provide direction for personnel conducting non-survival surgery on research animals at the University of Iowa. These guidelines are intended for use by properly trained personnel listed on an IACUC-approved Animal Protocol who will be performing approved surgical procedures or assisting with those procedures. Deviation from these guidelines must be described and justified in an IACUC-approved Animal Protocol.

Instrument and Equipment Preparation

• All instruments and materials to be used should be visibly clean at the beginning of surgery
• Expired surgical materials such as suture or implants may be used

Medications

• All drugs (anesthetics, analgesics etc.) and any fluids administered must not be expired

Surgery Location

• Allocate a clean uncluttered work area away from laboratory traffic, ventilation ducts and open windows
  • Dedicate the area solely to surgical procedure(s) when in use

Area Preparation

• Clean the work surface of visible dirt or debris
• Apply a clean drape over the working surface where the surgery will be performed

Animal Preparation

• Anesthetize the animal in accordance with the approved Animal Protocol
  • Refer to the IACUC Guidelines on Anesthesia [1] for details of requirements
• For prolonged procedures, apply ophthalmic ointment to both eyes to prevent corneal desiccation
• Remove hair from the surgical site using one of the following:
  • Clipper blade
  • Depilatory cream
  • Fur plucking
• Remove loose hair and visible dirt/debris from the surgical site
• Wipe the surgical site clean using alcohol, surgical scrub or warm water
• Avoid excessive wetting of non-surgical areas of the animal with alcohol or disinfectant as this can exacerbate hypothermia

Surgeon Preparation

• At a minimum, put on a clean lab coat or scrub top and a clean pair of gloves
  • Additional personal protective equipment may be needed depending on other factors, such as the animal species or type of procedure

Euthanasia

• At the end of the procedure, euthanize the animal under anesthesia in accordance with the approved Animal Protocol.
  • Refer to the IACUC Guidelines on Euthanasia [2] for further details

Record Keeping

• Record the following information in addition to the anesthesia record requirements [3]  Note: the anesthesia record may be combined with the surgical record; click here for the template. [4]
  • Procedure
  • Time of euthanasia
• Keep surgery and anesthesia records readily accessible for review

Last Reviewed 11/9/2022