Anesthesia, Surgeries and Analgesia

SUBJECT:

Anesthesia, Surgeries and Analgesia

 Effective Date:
3/27/2026 		Policy Number:
10.4.6
听 Supersedes:
3/31/2023
4/3/2020
8/31/2018
11/17/2017
9/29/2017
8/25/2017
9/1/2014
7/30/2004 		Page 1 of 7
听 Responsible Authorities:
Principal Investigator
Vice President, Research
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Associate Vice President for Research, Research Integrity
Comparative Medicine
  1. Background

    Public Health Policy (PHS), the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) and the Animal Welfare Regulations (AWR) require IACUCs to provide appropriate oversight for any anesthetic or surgical procedure performed in laboratory animals. This includes, but is not limited to, review of protocols describing anesthesia or surgical procedures, inspection of areas where surgical procedures are performed (including pre- and post-operative care areas), assessment of the training of personnel who perform anesthesia or surgery or are responsible for peri-operative care, and post approval monitoring of protocols involving anesthesia or surgery in all vertebrate research animals included in the animal care and use program at 糖心Vlog.

  2. Purpose

    This policy establishes institutional standards for the performance of anesthesia and surgery in laboratory animals used in research and teaching. It provides guidance to animal care and research personnel to ensure that anesthetic and surgical practices are conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations, as well as current veterinary medical standards. The policy is intended to promote animal welfare by minimizing risks associated with anesthesia and surgical interventions, ensuring appropriate pain management, and reducing post-operative pain and complications through proper technique, monitoring, and care.

  3. General Statement

    Animals may undergo anesthetic and/or surgical procedure(s) when scientifically justified and described in an approved IACUC protocol, or when required for clinical or operational purposes. All personnel who perform, or are expected to perform, or assist with anesthesia and/or surgeries must be appropriately trained and demonstrate proficiency in the relevant technique(s). To minimize procedural risk and promote animal welfare, animals must receive appropriate pre-procedural evaluations, intra-operative monitoring, and post-procedural care. Anesthetic and analgesic regimens must be selected and administered to ensure adequate depth of anesthesia, effective pain management, and support of physiological stability throughout the peri-operative period.

  4. Policy
    1. General Requirements
      1. Appropriate anesthesia must be provided to all animals undergoing procedures requiring immobilization, sedation, or surgical intervention.
      2. All anesthetic, surgical, and analgesic procedures must be described in sufficient detail in the approved IACUC protocol or amendment, including:
        • Pre-operative preparation
        • Intra-operative monitoring
        • Post-operative care
        • Pain assessment criteria
        • Analgesic regimen and assessment of effectiveness
      3. Post-operative analgesia is expected for all survival surgeries unless a scientifically justified exception is explicitly approved by the IACUC.
      4. All anesthetic, sedative, and analgesic agents must be used within manufacturer expiration dates and in accordance with veterinary guidance.
    2. Survival Surgery
      1. All survival surgeries involving any vertebrate species must be conducted using aseptic technique.
      2. Exam gloves in boxes are not considered sterile and must not be used for performing aseptic surgery
      3. USDA-regulated species
        • Must be conducted in an IACUC-approved surgical facility
        • Instruments must be sterile
        • Required PPE: head cover, surgical mask, sterile gown (surgeon), sterile gloves (surgeon).
      4. Non-USDA-regulated species (e.g., laboratory rodents)
        • Procedures must be performed in a designated, uncluttered, clean area.
        • Vivarium surgical suites must be used unless alternative research laboratory space has been specifically requested and approved by the IACUC.
        • Instruments must be sterile.
        • Required PPE (surgeon): clean scrubs or lab coat, sterile gloves, head cover, and surgical mask.
    3. Non-Survival Surgery
      1. Must be conducted in an uncluttered, clean area.
      2. Full aseptic technique is generally not required; however, good surgical practice and preparation of the animal are expected.
      3. Shaving of the surgical site is not required for short terminal procedures (e.g., transcardial perfusion) unless dictated by scientific aims.
      4. For extended terminal procedures in USDA-regulated species aseptic technique may be required to maintain physiological stability and model integrity.
      5. Animals must be maintained under a surgical plane of anesthesia until euthanasia and confirmation of death.
    4. Pre-Surgical Assessment
      1. Animals must undergo a health assessment prior to enrollment in a surgical procedure.
      2. Animals must have an appropriate body condition score and be free of conditions that would compromise recovery.
      3. Appropriate peri-operative support must be provided, including:
        • Maintenance of hydration
        • Thermal support
        • Clean, quiet recover environment
        • Access to palatable food and/or dietary supplementation
    5. Monitoring and Post-Operative Care
      1. Animals must be continuously monitored from induction of anesthesia and for the duration of the procedure until full recovery, as indicated by return of the righting reflex and purposeful movement.
      2. Survival surgical animals must be monitored at least once a day until the surgical incision has healed and sutures/staples/wound clips have been removed. Monitoring and frequency may be extended based on procedure invasiveness or induced impairment.
      3. Animals must be observed for pain or distress during and after analgesic administration. Additional analgesic must be provided when indicated, unless otherwise approved in the IACUC protocol.
      4. In non-survival surgeries, monitoring concludes upon euthanasia and confirmation of death.
    6. Post-operative Monitoring Plan
      1. The intensity and duration, and parameters of monitoring, must be appropriate to the surgical procedure performed.
      2. Monitoring plans will be reviewed with veterinary staff during protocol development, approved by the IACUC, and must be followed as described.
      3. The IACUC may require enhanced monitoring (e.g., every 4-6 hours for the first 24 hours following the procedure) depending on the invasiveness of the procedure.
    7. Recordkeeping
      1. Documentation is required for all anesthetic and surgical procedures.
      2. Records must include
        • Pre-surgical body weight (for cases in which the body weight might artificially be increased due to implantation of a medical device, the body weight should be taken immediately post-operatively)
        • Anesthetic and analgesic agents administered (drug, dose, route, time)
        • Monitoring parameters observed
        • Pain assessments
        • Post-operative observations
      3. At a minimum:
        • Minor survival surgeries: daily documentation for three (3) days
        • Major survival surgeries: daily documentation for five (5) days
      4. Records must be available for review by the IACUC at any time.
    8. Personnel Qualifications and Training
      1. Surgeons must have adequate training and demonstrated proficiency in:
        • Species specific anesthesia and monitoring
        • Aseptic technique
        • Technique specific to the surgery performed
        • Hemostasis
        • Appropriate instrument use
        • Suture materials and wound closure
        • Analgesic administration and pain assessment
      2. Undergraduate students and volunteers may assist but may not independently perform surgery without direct, continuous supervision by the PI or an experienced designee.
    9. Training Requirements are governed by IACUC policy 10.4.22 (Personnel Training in the Care and Use of Animals). Competency must be evaluated by the Attending Veterinarian or designee.
  5. Definitions
    1. Anesthesia: A pharmacologically induced, reversible state characterized by loss of sensation, including pain perception. Anesthesia may be produced by injectable or inhalant agents and may be local (affecting a specific region of the body) or general (affecting the entire body). General anesthesia typically includes a combination of unconsciousness, amnesia, analgesia, muscle relaxation, and attenuation of autonomic responses.
    2. Analgesia/analgesic: refers to the relief or prevention of pain without loss of consciousness. An analgesic is a pharmacologic agent administered to prevent or alleviate pain through action on the peripheral and/or central nervous system.
    3. Survival Surgery: a surgical procedure from which an animal is expected to recover consciousness. The defining characteristic is the animal's recovery from anesthesia and continued survival following the procedure, regardless of the duration of post-surgical survival.
    4. Non-survival (terminal) surgery: a surgical procedure from which an animal does not regain consciousness and is euthanized prior to recovery. Animals must be maintained at an appropriate surgical plane of anesthesia until euthanasia and confirmation of death to prevent pain or distress.
    5. Major survival surgery: penetrates and exposes a body cavity (e.g. laparotomy, thoracotomy, craniotomy), causes substantial impairment of physical or physiologic functions (e.g. induced stroke, limb amputations, organ resection) or involves extensive tissue dissection or transection.
    6. Minor survival surgery: does not expose a body cavity and results in minimal tissue trauma, and produces little or no physical impairment (e.g., wound closure, peripheral vessel cannulation and subcutaneous implantation).
    7. Aseptic technique: a defined set of practices performed under controlled conditions to prevent microbial contamination. Aseptic technique includes appropriate preparation of the animal, the surgeon, and the surgical environment, and requires the use of sterile surgical instruments, drapes (as applicable), gloves, and implanted materials.
    8. Post-surgical period: the time from recovery of the animal from anesthesia until the surgical incision has healed. Surgical staples or skin sutures must be removed 7-14 days post-operatively (if applicable).
  6. Accountability

    The Principal Investigator (PI) will be responsible for:

    • Ensuring that procedures are performed as described in the approved IACUC protocol. Any proposed changes must be submitted as an amendment and receive IACUC approval prior to implementation.
    • Ensuring all personnel listed on the protocol are appropriately trained and qualified to perform assigned procedures.
    • Ensuring personnel complete required IACUC-mandated training and coordinating with the AV or designee for assessment and verification of proficiency when required.
    • Training personnel in protocol specific, approved experimental methods and applicable regulations, policies, and SOPs related to anesthesia, surgery and analgesia.
    • Maintaining and calibrating all anesthetic and/or surgical equipment in proper working order
    • Ensuring that all anesthetics, sedatives, or analgesics administered to animals are within the manufacturer provided expiration date, stored appropriately, and used in a manner consistent with the IACUC-approved protocol.
    • Contacting veterinary staff when animals experience complications, unexpected outcomes, or shows signs of pain/distress not adequately controlled by the approved analgesic regimen.

    The IACUC will be responsible for:

    • Reviewing and approving, requiring modifications in (to secure approval) or withholding approval of IACUC protocols and/or amendments
    • Providing oversight for all animal procedures conducted including anesthesia, analgesia and surgical procedures
    • Establishing institutional standards and policies governing anesthesia, surgery, and analgesia
    • Ensuring appropriate training requirements are defined and incorporated into institutional policy
    • Ensuring that analgesic, sedative, and analgesic drugs are administered to animals within the manufacturer provided expiration date and as approved in the IACUC protocol.
    • Post-approval review of anesthetic and surgical procedures/records

    The Research Integrity office will be responsible for:

    • Providing administrative support to the IACUC members to facilitate their regulatory function.
    • Maintaining IACUC policies and coordinating periodic review and revision as required by the IACUC.
    • Maintaining relevant training records and providing documentation to the IACUC for review.
    • Supporting post-approval monitoring and documentation processes.

    The Office of Comparative Medicine (CM) will be responsible for:

    • Complying with this policy when performing anesthesia, surgery, or administering analgesia
    • Conducting veterinary review of IACUC protocols and advising PIs on appropriate anesthetic regimens, analgesic plans, peri-operative care, and surgical technique
    • Providing consultation regarding species-specific standards of care.
    • Delivering and documenting training in anesthesia, analgesia, aseptic technique, surgical methods, and pain assessment as required by the IACUC.
    • Assessing and verifying technical proficiency of personnel through direct observation when indicated.
    • Providing guidance on equipment maintenance and appropriate clinical practices.
    • Delivering veterinary care and clinical intervention when complications arise
  7. Procedures

    Please refer to the IACUC SOP Rodent Anesthesia, Surgery and Analgesia at /research-admin/researchintegrity/animal-subjects- iacuc/regulations-and-resources/.

  8. Policy Renewal Date

    3/27/2029

  9. References
    1. PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
    2. Animal Welfare Regulations, 9 CFR Ch. 1
    3. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th edition, 2011

POLICY APPROVAL

Initiating Authority

Gregg Fields, Ph.D., Vice President for Research

Executed signature pages are available in the Initiating Authority Office(s)