BU IACUC Approved October 2000; Revision 1 January 2011, Revision 2 September 2011, Revision 3 January 2014, Revision 4 February 2018, Revision 5 March 2021

To ensure that rodent survival surgeries are completed using the basic rules of asepsis, gentle tissue handling, anesthetic maintenance, and proper post-operative care. To further ensure that rodent survival surgeries are carried out in accordance with applicable governmental regulations, NIH policies and guidelines, university policies and The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Note that rodent species covered by USDA and the Animal Welfare Act2 require more stringent documentation and record keeping than rats of the Genus Rattus and mice of the Genus Mus. However, it is incumbent upon the investigator to care for all rodents to minimize pain and distress and to optimize animal care. In addition, good animal care and use will reduce study variability and increase consistency of research data leading to use of fewer animals.

Introduction

Survival surgical procedures in all animals including rodents should adhere to Halsted’s Principles of Surgery.3, 4 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 of the incision and exposed tissues. Aseptic technique results in decreased inflammation and gentle tissue handling, reduced catabolism and enhanced recovery and reduced postoperative complications. Infections in rodents can be sub-clinical, but still affect the behavior and/or physiology of the animal. Prevention of infection improves animal welfare and eliminates a source of uncontrolled variation in the experimental results.

Procedures

Surgical Area

  • A dedicated surgical suite is not required for rodent survival surgery.
  • An area in the lab or part of a lab bench can be designated to be used only for surgery.
  • The surgical area must be a portion of the room that can be easily sanitized and located in an area with minimal traffic flow. Prepare your surgery area, arrange gas anesthesia mask, stereotaxic apparatus, etc. before unwrapping instruments and putting on gloves.
  • Prepare the surgical area by removing all extraneous equipment or other materials.
  • Clean the area with a disinfectant (10% bleach solution, chlorhexidine, Clidox, MB-10, activated hydrogen peroxide) and place a clean towel or surgery tray to cover the work surface. A heating pad must be placed under the work surface (set at no greater than 40oC) for procedures lasting longer than 20 minutes or for procedures which open a body cavity (i.e., thoracotomy, laparotomy). The animal must not be placed in direct contact with the heating pad. A circulating warm water pad is best but other heat sources may be used.
  • Electric heating pads are not recommended due to the danger of burn injuries.
  • Replace all disposable materials after each surgery session.

Instruments, Suture Materials, Towels, Gauze Pads and Drapes

  • All instruments that come in direct contact with the surgical site must be sterile.
  • Steam (autoclave), ethylene oxide or chemical sterilization is required.
  • The instruments, sutures, etc. should be placed in a specially designed pack or wrapped in drapes or cloths, then steam autoclaved. Please label packs with date of sterilization (expiration is 6 months after sterilization date). Any implants should be sterilized; fragile implants may be gas-sterilized or soaked in 2% glutaraldehyde (soak for 10 hours) or other chemical sterilant (not disinfectant) – that is rinsed off copiously with sterile water or 0.9% NaCl before implanting.
  • If performing surgery on more than one rodent, begin with at least 2 sets of sterile instruments.
  • Open the instrument pack and the drape and sponge pack (if wrapped separately.)
  • Use sterile suture, drapes and sponges prepared by autoclaving (or they can be purchased sterile).
  • If the experimental design requires repetitive surgeries (i.e. performing the same surgical procedure on a number of rodents at the same time) proceed as described in section J below.

Maintenance of Gas Anesthesia Apparatus

  • Annual inspection and maintenance of the isoflurane vaporizer by professional contractor or qualified personnel is required.
  • The f-air canister saturation must be monitored by tracking and documenting time used or by increased weight to determine when a new f-air canister should be placed.
  • Environmental Health and Safety will determine personnel exposure to isoflurane as needed and advise users.
  • An “elephant trunk” anesthesia gas exhaust duct connected to the room exhaust air duct is strongly recommended.

Animal Preparation

Rodents scheduled for survival surgery must have completed the required acclimatization period.

  • Evaluate prospective rodents to ensure that they are apparently healthy.
  • Do not withhold food in rodents before surgery unless specifically mandated by the protocol or surgical procedure. Water must NOT be withheld unless required by the protocol. Withholding food for longer than six (6) hours in rats or mice must be discussed with a veterinarian and approved by the IACUCInstitutional Animal Care and Use Committee IACUC oversee....
  • Animal should be prepared in an area away from the surgical area (Note: animal preparation includes anesthesia, hair clipping and initial scrub).
  • Induce anesthesia and check anesthetic depth after the required induction time by verifying lack of withdrawal upon firm toe pinch (toe pinch method).
  • After the animal is anesthetized, apply a bland sterile ophthalmic ointment to the eyes to prevent drying, which could result in development of corneal ulcers. (Note: Animals do not close their eyes when anesthetized and they do not blink.)
  • Remove fur from the surgical site using electric clippers with a #40 or #50 blade. Avoid the use of depilatory cream or use with caution if required and approved in the IACUC protocol The area to be shaved must be twice that expected for the surgical area or have at least 2-3 cm of shaved skin on each side of the planned incision, in the event that a larger incision than planned may be required.
  • Put on clean or sterile gloves and scrub the shaved skin with a chlorhexidine or povidone iodine-soaked gauze/cotton. Start from the center of the shaved site (or start from where incision will be) and clean in concentric circles toward the edge of the shaved area. Discard the chlorhexidine or iodine-soaked gauze and use an alcohol-soaked gauze (70% isopropyl alcohol) to remove excess chlorhexidine or iodine in a similar fashion as above (starting from the center working towards the edge).

Patient Surgical Scrub

  • Move the animal to the surgical area.
  • Do not use the surgical area for any other purpose during the time of surgery.
  • Place animal on a clean absorbent pad, over a heating pad (if appropriate), or in appropriate stereotaxic apparatus.
  • Position with tape. Do not overstretch the legs or bind them in such a way as to restrict circulation.
  • Repeat chlorhexidine/alcohol or iodine/alcohol scrub two more times (as described above in D7).
  • Cover the animal with a sterile drape with a fenestration (opening) over the proposed incision site. Alternatively, cling film can be used. The drape minimizes contamination of the surgical area and surgical instruments. (To perform sterile draping, the surgeon must already be aseptically prepared including use of sterile gloves).

Rodent Anesthesia Monitoring

Anesthetic monitoring of small rodents includes testing of rear foot reflexes before any incision is made, and continual observation of respiratory pattern, mucous membrane color and responsiveness to manipulations throughout the procedure. It is recommended that rectal temperature and heart rate are monitored electronically if possible during long or involved procedures. Monitor the rodent continually, documenting findings every 15 minutes on the surgical record (e.g. BU Rodent Surgical Record) and note the following:

  1. Anesthetic Depth: The toe pinch method to evaluate depth of anesthesia is useful but not enough in itself. One must use two fingers and give the toe/foot a good squeeze. If there is no withdrawal reaction, the animal is judged deep enough to commence surgery. Remember that after this has been done the fingers are not sterile anymore. A sterile gauze pad may be used to protect the sterile gloves. Alternatively, a hemostat may be used to squeeze toe/foot. In this case, one must be careful not to squeeze too hard. Remember that after the hemostat has been used to squeeze toe, it is not sterile anymore and must not be used for surgery.
  2. Respiratory pattern: Anesthesia will cause a distinct slowing of respiratory rate (RR). The surgeon must evaluate if RR becomes too slow and the anesthesia needs to be lightened and if the depth of respiration becomes too shallow. Increasing RR indicates the need for supplemental anesthesia.
  3. Mucous membranes (MM): MM are evaluated by the color of the pinnae (ears) and toes. If these become bluish this is an emergency, indicating that the animal does not have enough oxygen. Pink is good and red MM usually indicates that the animal is too warm. This is not likely to occur during surgery but may occur during recovery from anesthesia, especially if a heat lamp is used to keep the animal warm. In such a case, the animal recovering from anesthesia must be protected and the lamp moved.
  4. Reaction to surgical manipulation: If the animal makes any kind of move in response to incision or manipulation of organs, surgery must be temporarily stopped and anesthesia supplemented.

Surgeon

  • Wear a clean lab coat or scrub top and remove all jewelry (rings, bracelets, watches) on the hands and wrists.
  • Don a face mask and hair bonnet or cap for all surgeries.
  • Wash and scrub hands with a disinfectant soap, or surgical scrub brush, and dry with clean towels.
  • Wear sterile gloves.
  • Change gloves between animals or if they become contaminated.
  • Anything touching the drape or the sterile field must be sterile. If forceps are used to check the toe pinch response, the tips are considered contaminated.
  • Sterile gauze pads may be used to manipulate non-sterile objects.

Surgical Procedure

Please recall that only procedures approved in the IACUC protocol can be performed.

  • Check level of anesthesia again using toe pinch method.
  • Make the incision using a sharp scalpel or scissors.
  • Check level of anesthesia again using toe pinch method.
  • Control any hemorrhage through direct digital pressure, electrocautery, or with a hemostat and tying off vessels as appropriate.
  • Using a new scalpel or scissors, incise deeper layers of tissue, such as the abdominal wall. Take care to prevent damage to underlying structures.
  • Perform the intended surgical procedure. Work carefully. Avoid unnecessary crushing of tissues. If tissues are to be exposed for any length of time, they must be periodically lavaged with sterile saline, or covered with a saline-soaked gauze.

Closure of Incision(s)

Depending on the procedure, close internal organs followed by the deeper tissue layers. Simple, continuous suture pattern with a 3-0 or 4-0 (for rats) or 4-0 to 5-0 (for mice) synthetic absorbable suture may be used or a simple interrupted pattern using natural absorbable (chromic gut) may be used. Note that silk is not appropriate because of its wick function, predisposing to postoperative infections.

Tighten all knots adequately. Only apply enough strength to the closure to appose tissue edges. Tissue should not be compressed.

Close the skin as a separate layer using simple interrupted suture pattern with monofilament non-absorbable suture such as nylon (silk is not appropriate due to wicking and poor tensile strength). Tissue adhesive or staples or wound clips may also be used.

For Multiple Surgeries

After the first surgery, clean all instruments thoroughly to remove all organic material by rinsing in saline or distilled water and insert each instrument into a hot bead sterilizer for the recommended time. (Note: alcohol is not a sterilant). Be sure to allow time for cooling after immersion in the hot bead sterilizer before using on the next animal. If gloves are soiled, change them. Follow all above procedures on the next animal. It is recommended that a new set of sterile, autoclaved instruments be used on every five animals. If known contamination has taken place, the instrument must not be reused before resterilization.

Postsurgical Care

  • Recover each rodent in a separate cage with clean bedding, placing the rodent on a clean paper towel inside the cage until it is sternal. This is to avoid aspiration of bedding while the animal is still anesthetized.
  • Recover the animal in a warm environment, for example in a clean bedded cage placed over a heating pad, a circulating warm water heater, or chemical pack such as “hot hands” covered with a clean towel. A warm water bottle or warmed saline bag covered with towel or a heat lamp can also be used. Avoid direct contact of rodent with heat source. Use the lowest level of heat possible. No more than half the cage should be over a heated surface.
  • In prolonged or very invasive surgeries, administer warmed balanced electrolyte solution (such as Lactated Ringers Solution = LRS) given intraperitoneally (IP) or subcutaneously (SC). Administer 0.5 -1.0 ml SC or IP to mice and 3- 5 ml SC or IP to rats. Larger rodent species may have an indwelling IV catheter placed and receive fluids (LRS) via IV drip during the procedure. Alternatively, SC fluids may be administered at a rate of 4 ml/kg for every hour of surgery. Administer more if there was much bleeding during surgery. Additional fluids should be given if the animal is dehydrated or not drinking.
  • Monitor the color of pinnae (external ear) or footpad. If the color is too pink, this probably denotes overheating.
  • Check respiration rate and depth every 10 to 15 minutes, until they have recovered their balance and can right themselves. The animal must not be left unattended until it has recovered and is able to remain upright in a sternal position.
  • Report any complications to the supervisor. The veterinarian must be consulted if recurring problems are not resolved.
  • The animal must be monitored daily for a minimum of 72 hours and up to one week following surgery, assessing such parameters as appetite, and wound healing. Administer analgesics and other drugs as stipulated in the protocol or as recommended by the veterinarian using the Rodent Post-procedure monitoring sheet to document care during recovery.
  • If during the next few days after surgery the animal(s) appear lethargic, or do not appear to be eating or drinking, or seem painful, reevaluate condition. If indicated, repeat IP or SC fluid administration and analgesics and consult veterinary staff
  • Remove skin closure materials 10-14 days post-surgery.

Records

  • Keep appropriate and complete records of the surgical procedure, anesthesia and pre- and post-operative care using the post-op card including dose, route and time of administration of analgesics and antibiotics administered. All record notations must be signed/initialed and dated. The IACUC recommends using the BU Rodent Surgical Record and Post-Procedure Monitoring Form for such records. All records must provide the same level of detail provided by the linked forms and must be kept in one easily accessed centralized location that is contiguous to the animal housing location.
  • Surgery on USDA regulated rodents (i.e., gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas) requires maintenance of more extensive records (please consult with veterinary staff for the appropriate form).
  • In addition, the cage of the animal(s) should be marked according to the specific animal facility SOP (BU ASC).

References

  • National Academy of Sciences, 2011; The Guide for the Care and Use of Animals, Eighth Edition. 2011
  • United States of America Code of Federal Regulations (7 USC 2131-2159), Animal Welfare Act (1970, 1976, 1985, 1990, 2002, 2007, 2008). https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/Animal%20Care%20Blue%20Book%20-%202013%20-%20FINAL.pdf
  • Forman, L.A., 2000; Rodent Surgery guidelines, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
  • William Stewart Halsted, MD 1852 -1922, a very influential American surgeon who emphasized hygiene, was an early champion of newly discovered anesthetics, and introduced several new surgical procedures.
  • Slatter, D., 1993; Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders and Co.
    Ryden E. and Larsen D. 2004. Comparative Medicine Resources, New Jersey Medical School, UMDNJ Newark Campus.
  • IACUC Guidelines, University of California at San Francisco, 2005.
  • USDAUnited States Department of Agriculture covered rodent species include but are not limited to the following: chinchillas, degus, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, woodchucks and others.

History

Effective Date: 04/06/2021

Next Review Date: 04/06/2024

First Approved: 10/2000

Revised: 01/2011, 09/2011, 01/2014, 2/4/2018, 3/31/2021

 

Also see: Aseptic Surgery