UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER SURGERY TRAINING

Classifications of Surgery  Major surgery – surgery is considered major if it enters a body cavity or has the potential for having significant complications. The use of aseptic technique is mandatory for these surgeries.  Minor surgery – include procedures such as peripheral vessel cannulations and skin incisions.  Survival – the animal will recover  Non-survival – the animal will not recover and will be euthanized before awakening

Legal Requirements  Surgery must be performed or directly supervised by trained, experienced personnel.  Procedures that will cause more than momentary or slight pain must be performed with appropriate sedatives, analgesics and/or anesthetics unless withholding such agents is justified for scientific reasons and is approved by the IACUC.

Surgical Facilities  Non-survival, minor or rodent/non-mammal surgery may be performed in an approved lab. The IACUC will review and approve all surgical areas.  The surgical table must be constructed of a material that can be disinfected/sterilized.  Keep your lab clean – No food or drink allowed in lab.  The DLAM Surgery Suite (rooms 013 A – D) is to be used for major survival surgery in large animals. We do have procedure rooms for rodent surgeries.

Surgical Facilities  The surgical suite needs to be reserved 2 weeks in advance by contacting Tito Nelson at x0590 or by filling out the form found on DLAM’s website.  Tito if you would like to use one of our procedure rooms for rodent surgery. She will need to confirm your time.

Surgical Equipment  Portable anesthesia (Isoflurane) machines are available for use. To reserve this equipment, use the same form as for reserving rooms and/or contact Tito Nelson. Please give 2 weeks notice.  Assistance with surgeries can also be requested. Please request this help in advance to Tito.

Surgical Instruments  Surgical instruments must be sterile. Heat sterilization is ideal.  For multiple rodent surgeries, instruments may be sterilized with a bead sterilizer between animals.

Preparation of Personnel  A clean lab coat is recommended for rodent surgeries. A hair cover and facemask will reduce the risk of gross contamination.  The surgeon’s hands should be scrubbed for any large animal survival surgery.  A cap, facemask, shoe covers and sterile gown must be worn for all large animal major survival surgeries.

Pre-operative Prep  For large animals – the prep room is 013E. This is where intubation, IV catheter placement and surgical site clipping should take place. If the investigator is inexperience, DLAM personnel will be assigned to manage the pre-operative procedures. Only one animal can be brought to the prep room at a time.  For rodents – the prep area should be separate from the surgery area.

Anesthesia and Analgesia  Pain – An unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.  Analgesia – A complete loss of sensitivity to pain  Anesthesia – A total loss of sensation in a part of or in the entire body

Anesthesia and Analgesia  Expired drugs may not be used for survival surgeries. Expired anesthetics cannot be used for terminal surgeries.  Use anesthetics and analgesics that have been approved by your protocol.  Anesthetics and analgesics must be pharmaceutical grade, not chemical grade, to be used in animals.  Calculate dosage based on weight.  Some drugs are controlled by the Drug Enforcement Agency. These need to be in a locked cabinet. Records must be complete.

Anesthesia  Test the animals reflexes (pedal and palprebal) before starting your incision.  Monitor the animals rate and depth of respiration.  Monitor the animal’s body temperature. Small animals lose body heat more rapidly.

Preparation of the Animal  Hair should be clipped from the surgical site.  The site should be thoroughly cleaned with a skin disinfectant (Betadine®) to remove skin bacteria.  Use three alternating scrubs of Betadine® and 70% alcohol.  Cleansing should be in a circular motion – never go back to the center with the same applicator.

Sutures  The abdominal or thoracic body wall should be closed with absorbable sutures in a simple, interrupted pattern.  The skin should be closed with non-absorbable sutures or wound clips.  Silk is not a good suture choice because it has capillary action and causes inflammation.

Post-surgical Observations  Care of the animals post-operatively is done by the surgeon until the animal is conscious.  Animals recovering in your lab must be provided an additional heat source: a heated water circulating pad, a heating pad or a heat lamp.  If you have animals recovering in your lab, it is recommended that you cover the cage with a drape in case non-animal workers enter the lab.

Post-Surgical Observations  Animals are monitored for:  Hemorrhage  Dehiscence of surgical incisions  Pain – Analgesics are administered for the first 48 hrs.  Dehydration – may need to administer supplemental fluids  Keep your lab locked at all times, especially when animals are present.  Do not leave animals unattended.

Post-surgical Observations  Animals are observed thereafter for 7 days by DLAMs Animal Health Technician – Tito Nelson. NOTE: It is advisable to contact Tito before you do surgery so she is aware that observation will need to be done.  Sutures and/or wound clips are removed days after surgery by the surgeon.

Post-Surgical Observations  If the wound clips have not been removed after 10 days by the lab, our Health Technician will remove them for a fee.

Surgery Records  For survival surgeries, a Surgery/Post Operative Report form must be filled out. Multiple rodents can be on one form.  A blue card must be placed on the animal’s cage.  This form must be turned in to Tito to room RES-128 after all animals have recovered.

Any Questions?