Aseptic Rodent Surgery

  • Aseptic Rodent Surgery

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • (List the Facility Manager, Department Chair or other responsible personnel)

  • General Considerations

    • Location/procedure timing minimizes traffic/contamination (Guide, p 144)
    • functional components (surgical support, animal preparation area, sink, operating area, postoperative recovery area) are available. Operating area is separated (physically or otherwise) (Guide, p 144)
    • appropriate drug storage, labeling, control, expiration date monitoring & DEA/WA licensing, non-pharmaceutical drug use approved (Guide, pp 115, 122)
    • safe sharps disposal system (Guide, p 74)
    • adequate records of anesthesia and perioperative care (Guide, p 122)
    • aseptic procedures in use for all survival surgery at all surgical sites (Guide, pp 118-119)

  • Operating Area

    • operating area is uncluttered & work surfaces sanitized (Guide, p 144)
    • lighting safe and adequate (Guide, p 145)
    • anesthetic gas vaporizers are serviced by qualified personnel yearly (WSU IACUC policy #31)
    • scavenging of anesthetic gases is implemented. Active charcoal canisters are weighed regularly. Exhaust systems are certified as required. (Guide, p 145, WSU IACUC policy #31)

  • Surgical Support

    • facility for washing, sterilizing, storing instruments and supplies (Guide, p 145)
    • autoclave monitoring procedures are implemented (Guide, pp 119, 145). What autoclaves are used to sterilize instruments and how is autoclave efficacy monitored? Are biological indicators used?
    • storage of autoclaved materials maintains sterility (Guide, p 145). Autoclaved materials are covered and marked with date of autoclaving
    • if multiple surgeries are done with the same set of instruments, instruments are re-sterilized between animals
    • cold sterilization procedures are appropriate (Guide, p 119)

  • Animal Preparation

    • the operative area is physically or procedurally protected from hair clipping & initial scrubbing procedures
    • animal is adequately anesthetized according to the relevant ASAF
    • hair removal and scrub is conducted at ALL SURGICAL SITES
    Surgeon Scrub
    • surgeon wears a clean lab coat or surgical gown & a face mask
    • sterile surgical gloves are used for all surgeries and at all surgical sites. If contaminated, surgical gloves are changed (Guide, p 145)
    Postoperative Recovery
    • adequate observation is conducted as described in the ASAF
    • post-operative analgesia described in the ASAF is provided and documentedA
    Records
    • Surgeon training is adequate and documented
    • Appropriate records of the surgical procedure, anesthesia and pre- and post-operative care are maintained