Survival Surgery in USDA-Regulated Species (IACUC)

Purpose

Boston University (BU) is committed to observing Federal policies and regulations and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International standards for the humane care and use of animals. The intent of this policy is to establish guidelines for performing survival surgery in USDA-regulated species. Adherence to this policy is mandatory unless an exception has been approved by the IACUC.

Covered Parties

This policy is applicable to all persons responsible for conducting research, teaching, training, breeding, and related activities, hereinafter referred to collectively as “activities”, involving live vertebrate animals conducted at or under the auspices of Boston University.

University Policy

All major and minor surgical procedures performed on any vertebrate animal must follow the basic rules of asepsis, gentle tissue handling, anesthetic maintenance, and proper post-operative care to minimize pain and distress, optimize animal care and research results, and minimize variability. All survival surgeries, whether major or minor, must employ aseptic technique. Aseptic operative techniques and sterile supplies and implanted materials must be used to reduce the likelihood of infection.

• A major surgical procedure penetrates or exposes a body cavity or causes substantial impairment of physical or physiological function.
• A minor surgical procedure does not expose a body cavity and causes little or no impairment of function.

All major operative procedures performed on USDA-regulated animals other than rodents and birds must be performed in an area dedicated for such purposes, such as the Boston University Animal Science Center (BU ASC) large animal surgery room (W910, Medical Campus). Exceptions to the policy must be justified and approved in advance by the IACUC.

Performing more than one survival surgery procedure is only permitted when scientifically justified and approved by the IACUC. Sufficient time between surgeries must be provided to allow for proper recovery unless a shorter interval is scientifically justified.

The following represent examples of scientifically justified rationale for multiple surgical procedures:

• The nature of the protocol requires it to achieve the desired physical or physiological effect.
• There is no other alternative available.
• The surgical procedure is needed to create the animal model.

Cost alone is never an acceptable reason for performing multiple survival surgical procedures.

Guidelines for Surgery

Survival surgical procedures in all animals, including species not regulated by USDA, should adhere to Halsted’s Principles of Surgery. These include:

• Gentle tissue handling
• Accurate hemostasis
• Preservation of adequate blood supply
• Strict asepsis
• No tension on tissues
• Careful approximation of tissues
• Obliteration of dead space

Aseptic surgical procedures are designed to prevent post-surgical infection due to microbial contamination at the site of incision and in the exposed tissues and organs. Aseptic technique results in decreased inflammation and, gentle tissue handling results in decreased catabolism and enhances recovery and reduces postoperative complications, Infections in animals can be subclinical but still affect the behavior and/or physiology of the animal. Prevention of infection improves the welfare of the animal and eliminates a source of uncontrolled variation in the experimental results.

Intraoperative Monitoring and Recordkeeping

Animals undergoing surgical procedures will have an anesthesia record started from the point of initial sedation and a vet tech dedicated solely to monitoring and recording of parameters. Animals are continually monitored visually for depth and rate of respiration with mucous membrane color and basic reflexes regularly evaluated. During surgical procedures, anesthetic monitoring includes pulse oximetry, capnography, respiratory and heart rates, ECG, body temperature and NIBP where possible. Values are recorded every 15 minutes. The effectiveness of the chosen balanced anesthesia is continually assessed and adjusted based on the animal’s physiologic responses and stage of procedure. Once anesthesia is stopped and anesthetic monitoring ceased, animals are always maintained under direct observation until fully recovered. There is no difference in the anesthesia monitoring for survival vs non-survival procedures.

Responsible Parties

Principal investigators are responsible for: preparing and submitting applications; making modifications in applications in order secure IACUC approval; ensuring adherence to approved protocols; ensuring that all personnel have completed required training; and reporting any adverse events to the IACUC.

The Animal Welfare Program and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee are responsible for overseeing implementation of and ensuring compliance with this policy.

The Attending Veterinarian or his/her designee has been delegated authority to intervene on behalf of any animal for welfare purposes when appropriate and responsibility for ensuring compliance with this policy.

Definitions

Aseptic technique: Preparation of the animal subject as well as the surgeon, which includes but is not limited to: proper gowning attire, appropriate scrub, and sterile gloves. Instruments must be sterilized; autoclaving and gas sterilization are common effective methods. Alcohol is not a sterilant.

Attending Veterinarian: Individual who has received training or experience in the care of the species being attended and who has direct authority for activities involving animals.

Boston University Animal Science Center (BU ASC): The animal facility that oversees veterinary medical care and animal care services at BU, and actively participates in all facility design. Day-to-day care of animals and technical assistance are provided by animal caretakers.

Dedicated area: Facility intended for that purpose and which shall be operated and maintained under aseptic conditions during survival surgeries.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): The committee that is responsible for oversight and evaluation of the entire Animal Care and Use Program and its components as described in The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Eighth Edition. Its oversight functions include review and approval of proposed animal use (protocol review) and of proposed significant changes to animal use; regular inspection of facilities and animal use areas; regular review of the Program; ongoing assessment of animal care and use; and establishment of a mechanism for receipt and review of concerns involving the care and use of animals at the institution.

Major surgical procedure: Penetrates or exposes a body cavity or causes substantial impairment of physical or physiological function.

Minor surgical procedure: Does not expose a body cavity and causes little or no impairment of function.

USDA-regulated species: Any live dog, cat, monkey (nonhuman primate mammal), guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or such other warm-blooded animal, as the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States may determine is being used, or is intended for use, for research, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet; but such term excludes (1) birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use in research, (2) horses not used for research purposes, and (3) other farm animals, such as, but not limited to livestock or poultry, used or intended for use as food or fiber, or livestock or poultry used or intended for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber. With respect to a dog, the term means all dogs including those used for hunting, security, or breeding purposes.

Bird: Any member of the Class Aves, excluding eggs, but including birds once the hatching process begins.

Bred for use in research: An animal that is bred in captivity and used for research, teaching, testing, or experimentation purposes.

Related Policies and References

AWAR 2.31 (d) (1) (ix) and (x)

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Eighth Edition

Review and Approval of Materials Submitted to the IACUC

Authority of the Attending Veterinarian

History

Effective Date: 10/10/2023
Next Review Date: 10/09/2026