Document 6458592
Transcription
Document 6458592
Operating Room Procedures And Postoperative Care of Large Animals Date Issued: September 27, 2006 Date Revised: March 31, 2009 Comparative Medicine Resources I. CMR Policy ..........................................................................................................2 II. Compliance ..........................................................................................................4 III. Personnel Training ...............................................................................................5 IV. Modifications to Intra-Operative Plan.................................................................... 6 V. Review of Surgical Program .................................................................................6 VI. Reporting Deficiencies in Animal Care and Treatments ....................................... 7 VII. General ................................................................................................................7 VIII. CMR Surgical Facilities ........................................................................................8 IX. Principles of Asepsis .......................................................................................... 10 X. Expired Medical Materials .................................................................................. 15 XI. Medical and Surgical Records ............................................................................ 17 XII. Pre-Operative Approval ...................................................................................... 20 XIII. Fasting ...............................................................................................................24 XIV. Surgeon Preparation .......................................................................................... 22 XV. Anesthetist Responsibilities ................................................................................ 24 XVI. Patient Preparation ............................................................................................ 28 XVII. Operating Room Emergency Evacuation ........................................................... 30 XVIII. Loss of Electric Power: Emergency Procedures ................................................. 31 XIX. Post-Operative Recovery ................................................................................... 32 XX. Assessing Pain and Distress .............................................................................. 36 XXI. Sanitation ........................................................................................................... 38 XXII. References......................................................................................................... 39 I. Approval for Research Staff to Provide Anesthesia Support. 1. CMR requires that all surgical procedures in USDA-regulated animals 1 are attended by a CMR Veterinary Technician (VT) and that preoperative USDA regulated large animals include but are not limited to nonhuman primates, dogs, cats, pigs, rabbits and woodchucks. Others may be included. Not included are small USDA regulated rodents including hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils and rats NOT of the Genus Rattus and mice NOT of the Genus Mus. Note that rats of the Genus Rattus and mice of the Genus Mus are not regulated by the USDA. 1 Page 1 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 (preoperative) care, anesthesia and postoperative (postoperative) care is provided by a CMR Veterinary Technician. 2. Exceptions may be made for investigators who can provide staff with training and experience equivalent to a CMR VT to do the anesthesia including preoperative and postoperative care. 3. An investigator who wishes to use their own staff for anesthesia support must submit this person’s name and resume in writing to Director, CMR. The CMR Director, Chief of Surgery and CMR VT staff will evaluate this individual by observation during three major operative procedures in the species to be authorized and write a comment evaluating the proposed individual. This commentary will be sent to the PI within one week of the completion of the 3rd surgical procedure and post-operative care with a copy to the Chair, IACUC and the Institutional Official (IO). 4. Procedures as outlined in the document CMR Operating Room Requirements and Postoperative Care must be observed. 5. In the interest of maintaining animal welfare and protect the institution’s compliance with Federal Laws and Regulations the CMR Veterinary Staff and members of the IACUC reserves the right to observe animal care and use at any time without prior notification. II. Scheduling and use of CMR surgical suites 1. The CMR maintains 3 sterile surgical suites as follows: A-level and MSB Glevel (G-level is an investigator’s exclusive surgical suite). 2. Surgeries are scheduled through CMR VT office. 3. Access to CMR surgical suites and maintenance of surgical suites remain the sole responsibility of the CMR. III. Charges 2 1. CMR will charge for Operating room, supplies and maintenance. 2 2. If Operating Room time is scheduled and then cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, the cancellation charge will apply. 3. Pre-operative, anesthetic monitoring and postoperative care charges will not be billed if provided by research staff. 4. Any and all other billable charges will apply. See CMR Technical Assistance billable charges Page 2 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 IV. Noncompliance 1. Noncompliance constitutes not adhering to procedures, or omission of procedures outlined in CMR Operating Room Requirements and Postoperative Care, which jeopardizes animal welfare or Institutional Compliance. 2. Approval of investigator research staff to perform anesthesia will be withdrawn after three (3) or fewer noncompliance incidents as defined in IV.1. 3. Noncompliance will be reported to the IACUC, IO, USDA and OLAW as required by Federal Policy. 4. Every attempt will be made to contact the PI before reporting to the IACUC, the IO, USDA and OLAW. 5. The PI may contest noncompliance items by appealing to the IACUC. Page 3 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 II. Compliance with Federal Regulations UMDNJ utilizes animals in biomedical research, testing and education and has recognizes an ethical responsibility for the humane care and use of such animals. The IACUC along with the Institutional Official is charged with the responsibility for reviewing the University’s program for humane care and use of animals; for reviewing concerns involving the care and use of animals; for inspecting the University animal housing facilities, study areas and satellite facilities; for reviewing and approving, requiring modifications (to secure approval) or withholding approval of proposed activities or of significant changes in activities relating to the care and use of animals; and, if necessary, for suspending activities involving animals. The purpose of compliance is to follow procedures in respect to the special cautions and considerations, which must be exercised in the conduct of research. The special cautions and consideration include procedures which may affect the welfare of the employees, the welfare of animals, and the environment. Since special precautions and considerations are to be followed, guidance on prompt reporting of deficiencies to OLAW under the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals can become a very challenging aspect of medical research. The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), Office of Extramural Research requires and gives guidance intended for IACUCs and Institutional Officials in determining what, when, and how situations should be reported under IV.F.3 of the Policy, and to promote greater uniformity in reporting. All institutions with Animal Welfare Assurances are required to comply with the provisions of IV.F.3. The Institutional Official signing the Assurance, in concert with the IACUC, is responsible for this reporting. Situations that meet the provisions of IV.F.3 and are identified by external entities such as the USDA or AAALAC, International, or by individuals outside the IACUC or outside the institution, are not exempt from reporting under IV.F.3. PHS Policy, IV.F.3 requires that: “The IACUC, through the Institutional Official, shall provide OLAW with a full explanation of circumstances and actions taken with respect to: 1. any serious or continuing noncompliance with the PHS Policy (OLAW) 2. any serious deviation from the provisions of the Guide3 3. any suspension of an activity by the IACUC” Reporting to OLAW or USDA serves dual purposes. Foremost, it ensures that institutions deliberately address and correct situations that affect animal welfare, PHSsupported research, and compliance with the Policy. In addition, it enables OLAW to monitor the institution’s animal care and use program oversight under the Policy, evaluate allegations of noncompliance, and assess the effectiveness of PHS policies and procedures. OLAW will assist the reporting institution in developing definitive corrective plans and schedules if necessary. A comprehensive list of definitive examples of reportable situations is impractical. Therefore, the examples below do not cover all instances, but demonstrate the threshold at which OLAW expects to receive a report. Examples of reportable situations, but are not limited to these situations 3 The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. NCR. National Academy of Sciences. 1996 Page 4 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 • • • • • • • • Conditions that jeopardize the health or well-being of animals, including natural disasters, accidents, and mechanical failures, resulting in actual harm or death of animals Conduct of animal-related activities without appropriate IACUC review and approval Failure to adhere to IACUC-approved protocols Implementation of any significant change to IACUC-approved protocols without prior IACUC approval as required by PHS Policy IV.B.7. Participation in animal-related activities by individuals who have not been determined by the IACUC to be appropriately qualified and trained as required by PHS Policy IV.C.1.f Failure to monitor animals post-procedurally as necessary to ensure wellbeing (e.g. during recovery from anesthesia or during recuperation from invasive or debilitating procedures) Failure to maintain appropriate animal-related records (e.g. identification, medical, husbandry) Failure to ensure death of animals after euthanasia procedures (e.g. failed euthanasia with carbon dioxide, anesthetic overdose) Institutions should notify OLAW of matters falling under IV.F.3 promptly, i.e., without delay. Since IV.F.3 requires a full explanation of circumstances and actions taken and the time required to full investigate and devise corrective actions may be lengthy, OLAW recommends that an authorized institutional representative provide a preliminary report to OLAW as soon as possible and follow-up with a thorough report once action has been taken. Preliminary reports may be in the form of a fax, email, or phone call. Reports should be submitted as situations occur, and not collected and submitted in groups or with the annual report to OLAW.4 III. Personnel Training Personnel involved with anesthesia and surgery in a research setting often have a wide range of educational backgrounds and may require various levels of training before performing surgery on animals. Personnel trained to perform surgery in humans may require additional training for interspecies variations in anatomy, physiology, and response to anesthetics and analgesics. Regardless of an individual's responsibility or educational background, all personnel performing anesthesia and surgery must have thorough knowledge and understanding of the approved IACUC protocol procedures and possess knowledge and familiarity with the relevant anatomy of the species and the surgical site. Personnel involved with any aspect of research projects must also be in compliance with all of Institution‘s requirements and training. Several training courses are required either annually or biannually. It is the responsibility of the investigative staff to be and remain in compliance with the CMR policies and University policies. At a minimum, training of anesthesia and surgical personnel must include: • A thorough knowledge of aseptic technique, including sterile gowning techniques • Administration and assessment of anesthesia • Appropriate tissue handling (tissue trauma contributes to postoperative infections) 4 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-05-034.html Page 5 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 • • • • • Familiarity with possible adverse events and when and how to manage properly such events (e.g., cardiac arrhythmias, bradycardia, etc.) in each species used Appropriate use of instruments Effective methods of hemostasis Correct use of sutures and/or skin staples Postsurgical care and monitoring, including the ability to recognize and alleviate pain and distress IV. Modifications to Intra-Operative Plan Changes in the surgical procedure as approved by the IACUC protocol are only permitted: • In the event of an emergency AND • With permission from CMR veterinarian. Request and Approval to be submitted in writing within 24 hours of verbal approval. This includes but is not limited to deviations from the protocol in terms of volume or frequency of blood collections, drugs, doses, suture material, and suture patterns. V. Review of Surgical Program Every six months, as part of the Semiannual Review and Inspection of Facilities, the IACUC along with the CMR veterinary staff will evaluate the comprehensive surgical program including but not limited to the following: • • • • • • • • • • • • • Evidence that an IACUC Approved Animal Protocol is being followed; All animals are maintained in accordance with approved protocol; Operating room sanitation is maintained according to CMR Standard Operating Procedures. Instruments and implants used for survival surgeries are being correctly sterilized (e.g. steam autoclave, glass bead sterilizer, approved chemical sterilant); Appropriate anesthesia and euthanasia techniques are being utilized; Proper medical records are maintained; Compliance with all regulations and guidelines; Controlled drugs are adequately secured and a drug usage log is being maintained; Volatile anesthetics are being vented or scavenged adequately; Animal carcasses are being disposed of properly; All lab personnel handling animals are appropriately trained and have attended all required CMR Training; All lab personnel have attended the University's basic laboratory training; The PI must provide a list of staff who work with animals. A summary of the findings will be presented as part of the Semiannual Review of Program and Inspection of Facilities. Disclaimer: Additions or deletions to the operating room requirement document can be made with the approval of the CMR Director, CMR Veterinary Staff, and IACUC committee. Page 6 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 VI. Reporting Deficiencies in Animal Care & Use Deficiencies or concerns about laboratory animal care and use should be reported to the Director of CMR, the Chairperson of the IACUC, the IACUC Administrator or any member of the IACUC. Anyone reporting deficiencies or concerns about animal care who wishes to remain anonymous can make the report through the Office of Business Conduct (973-972-8093 or 800-215-9664). The concern will be documented and will be investigated. If the concern is legitimate, actions will taken with the IACUC involved. The IACUC and the CMR Director will take action to correct deficiencies to assure humane care and use of animals and to protect the interests of the University. VII. General Animal surgical procedures must be conducted in accordance with the requirements of: • The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals [Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, 1996) o The Guide classifies surgical procedures under the category Veterinary Medical Care. It specifically states that: “appropriate attention to pre-surgical planning, personnel training, aseptic and surgical technique, animal well-being, and animal physiologic status during all phases of protocol will enhance the outcome of surgery.” • Animal Welfare Regulations (AWR, CFR, 1985) o The USDA's CFR, title 9 (Animal Welfare Act and Regulations) require that all major operative procedures on non-rodent species are to be performed in a dedicated facility that is operated and maintained under aseptic conditions. It is also required that no animal is subjected to more than one major operative procedure unless, the procedure has been justified for scientific reasons by the Principal Investigator and approved by the IACUC or the procedure is required as routine veterinary care to protect the health or well- being of the animal. • Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy, 1985) • UMDNJ-Comparative Medicine Resources Policies and IACUC Surgery is defined as any procedure that exposes tissues normally covered by skin or mucosa. Experimental surgery has great potential for causing pain or distress to animals if not performed properly. Surgery can result in pain, damage to tissue and post-operative infections. Therefore, stringent guidelines for training, surgical facilities, asepsis, surgical preparation, anesthesia, intra-operative records, analgesia, surgical technique, and post-operative monitoring have been established. There are different requirements depending on the type of surgery, and activity being performed. Terminology o o Major surgery is any procedure that enters a body cavity (thorax, abdomen, calvarium), or has the potential for having significant complications. Included would be orthopedic procedures and extensive cannulation procedures. Minor surgery is classified as any invasive operative procedure in which only skin, mucous membrane and/or connective tissue is resected. Minor procedures include peripheral vessel cannulations and skin incisions. Page 7 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Survival surgery is any surgical procedure from which an animal recovers consciousness. Aseptic technique must be used for all survival surgical procedures. Non-survival surgery (terminal) is a procedure which is conducted on animals that are not allowed to regain consciousness following the anesthesia and surgical procedures. Asepsis and sterility are not required for non-survival procedures, unless the procedures are of sufficient duration to allow bacterial infections to affect the outcome of the study. Multiple survival surgery is generally discouraged on a single animal. However, under special circumstances, more than one major surgical procedure on a single animal may be permitted with the approval of the IACUC, provided both surgeries are essential and related components of the research project. Occasionally, unanticipated additional operative care may be necessary to correct complications that arise following the primary surgical procedure. Such follow-up procedures may be justified as long as the second procedure does not cause an inordinate degree of distress to the animal. Antimicrobial – An agent or action that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms. Antiseptic - A chemical agent that is applied topically to inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Asepsis – Prevention of microbial contamination of living tissues or sterile materials by excluding, removing or killing micro-organisms. Bactericide – A chemical or physical agent that kills vegetative (non-spore forming) bacteria. Bacteriostat – An agent that prevents multiplication of bacteria. Cleaning – The process by which any type of soil including organic material, is removed. Cleaning is accomplished with detergent, water and scrubbing action. Commensals – Nonpathogenic microorganisms that are living and reproducing such as human or animal parasites. Contamination – Introduction of microorganisms to sterile articles, materials or tissues. Distress – Distress occurs with stress, which in turn may be induced by pain, among other stressors. Distress is an aversive state in which an animal cannot adapt completely to stressors and, therefore, the animal shows maladaptive behaviors. Sanitization – A process that reduces microbial contamination to a low level by the use of cleaning solutions, hot water or chemical disinfectants. Sterilant – An agent that kills all types of micro-organisms Sterile – Free from microorganisms. Sterilization – The complete destruction of microorganisms. VIII. CMR Surgical Facilities Specific rooms within the CMR are approved for survival surgical procedures on nonrodent mammalian species. These include A-level and MSB G-level. These facilities are constructed, maintained, and operated to ensure a level of cleanliness appropriate for aseptic surgery. In addition, they are directed and staffed by trained personnel. The following are basic procedures for the use of the surgical suites. A. Scheduling 1) Principal Investigator (PI) or designated staff member must call or e-mail to Page 8 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 schedule CMR surgical suite(s) with the supervising veterinary technician in as much in advance as possible to reserve the operating room. All requests will be accepted on first-come-first-serve basis. 2) Operating days and hours – Monday through Thursday 7:00am-4:00pm and Friday 7:00am-12:00 noon. a. Surgical Procedures are scheduled no earlier than 8:00 am and no later than 1:00 pm Monday –Thursday. b. Surgical Procedures are scheduled no earlier than 8:00 am and no later 9:00 am on Friday. 3) A complete surgical request form must be completed 48 hours prior to the surgical procedure to ensure proper care of the animal. 4) Investigators are required to use a CMR Veterinary Technician to provide surgical support. The Veterinary Technician will provide services such as preoperative preparation of animal, anesthetic induction and maintenance, perioperative monitoring, record keeping and post-operative care depending on the investigator’s and animal’s needs for a nominal fee. A clinical veterinarian is available at no charge for professional consultation. Exceptions can be made according to CMR Policy for Surgery in Large Animals. a. If the PI or Research staff is doing part of the procedures and they request CMR to be responsible for any portion of the pre-operative, anesthesia, or post-operative care, whether it be all or part of the procedure, the PI must make prior arrangements, so that animal care and responsibilities can be appropriately addressed. 5) Any unique scenarios or situations not described above remain subject to discussion and approval by CMR Director and/or veterinary staff. B. Surgical Suite Procedures 1) Preparation of the animal (e.g. anesthetization, clipping and preliminary surgical scrub) must be performed in the animal prep room separate from the operating room. After the animal has been moved to the operating room, a final scrub should be performed on the operating table. 2) Preparation of the surgeon must be performed in the surgeon prep room separate from the operating room which must be contiguous with the operating room. Instrument cleaning and pack preparation may also occur in this area but must not occur in the operating room. 3) The operating room must be free of supplies and equipment that are not relevant to the surgical procedures being performed. Long term storage and storage of supplies not used in operative procedures are not permitted. 4) The number of people present in the operating room must be suited to the size of the room and complexity of the procedure. CMR reserves the right to remove any non-authorized or excessive authorized personnel if their presence interferes with the procedure and/or compromises the safety of personnel or the research animal. Page 9 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 5) Eating and drinking is only permitted in the designated areas such as the break room or library or other such designated area. 6) Maintenance of the gas anesthesia machine is the responsibility of the CMR veterinary staff. When in use, if any problems occur, call any veterinary staff member for immediate assistance. 7) Investigators who are approved to utilize a surgical suite without CMR technical support will be provided with the following equipment: a. Inhalation Anesthetic Machine with oxygen and Isoflurane b. Ventilator c. Pulse Oximetry Monitoring system d. Heating pad(s) – circulating hot water pad e. Thermometer – the monitoring version f. Fluid pumps- for continuous rate infusion of fluids 8) Other equipment and supplies can be used for a usage fee and must be requested at the time surgery is scheduled (Note: This is not a complete list): e. Surgical Instruments a. Suction unit with tubing f. X-ray machine and b. CMR’s Cautery Unit developer c. I-Stat Machine g. Thermal Care Unit d. Autoclave IX. Principles of Asepsis Individuals performing survival surgical procedures must be knowledgeable about aseptic surgical techniques and have adequate training and skills to conduct the procedure to be performed without causing undue post-surgical distress to the animal. Aseptic procedures must be used for all survival surgical procedures. Asepsis is defined as preventing exposure to microorganisms and prevention of infection. Three things that are extremely important in achieving asepsis are the reduction of time, trauma and trash. • • • Time of surgical procedure is an important factor, as the longer a procedure takes the greater the possibility of contamination and therefore infection. Trauma that is sustained by the tissue as a result of rough handling, drying out upon exposure to room air, excessive dead space, implants or foreign bodies or non-optimal animal temperatures will contribute to infections. Trash refers to contamination by bacteria or foreign matter. According to The Guide, “aseptic technique is used to reduce microbial contamination to the lowest possible practical level. No procedure, piece of equipment, or germicide alone can achieve that objective. Aseptic technique requires the input and cooperation of everyone who enters the operating suite. The contribution and importance of each practice varies with the procedure.” Techniques include: • • • • Preparation of the patient; such as hair removal and disinfection of the operating site(s). Preparation of the surgeon such as the provision of decontaminated surgical attire, surgical scrub, and sterile surgical gloves. Sterilization of instruments, supplies, and implanted materials The use of operative techniques to reduce the likelihood of infection Page 10 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 • • Antibiotic administration Record keeping In considering methods of sterilization procedures, it is important to differentiate between sterilization and disinfection. Sterilization kills all viable microorganisms while disinfection only reduces the number of viable microorganisms. High level disinfection will kill most vegetative microorganisms, but will not kill the more resistant bacterial spores. Commonly used disinfectants such as alcohol, iodophors, quaternary ammonium, and phenolic compounds are not acceptable items intended to be used in survival surgical procedures. The purpose of the following guidelines is to assist the investigators in complying with these requirements. In general, unless an exception is specifically justified as an essential component of the research protocol and approved by the IACUC, the investigators should follow these guidelines. A. Principles of Surgical Techniques 1) All items used in any survival surgical procedure must be sterilized. a. Items used in any non-survival surgical procedures must be “clean”. 2) Persons who have scrubbed should touch only sterile items. Persons who have not scrubbed should touch only non-sterile items. 3) If the sterility of any items is in doubt it should be considered non-sterile. a. If a non-scrubbed person touches a sterile table, re-drape the table. b. If a scrubbed person touches a non-sterile table, the person should re-gown or cover the contamination. c. Any sterile table or sterile item left unguarded or uncovered should be considered non-sterile. d. If the autoclave tape is only partially changed in color the item should be considered non-sterile. 4) When preparing for surgery, personnel should: a. First put on a cap and then a mask. b. Open gown and glove packs c. Scrub from fingers to 2-3 inches above elbow. d. Scrub for a minimum of five (5) – seven (7) minutes e. Then put on gown and gloves. 5) Persons who have not scrubbed should avoid reaching over sterile fields and those who have scrubbed should avoid leaning over non-sterile areas. a. The scrubbed person should set fluid basins to be filled at the end of the table. b. The non-sterile assist should stand at a distance from the sterile field when adjusting the light. c. The surgeon should turn away from the field to have his/her brow mopped. d. The scrubbed person should drape the sterile tables nearest him/her first. 6) Tables are considered sterile only at tabletop level or above. a. Linen or sutures falling below table level are considered non-sterile and discarded. b. When draping the table the part of the sheet that drops below the table surface should not be brought up to table level again. 7) Gowns are considered sterile only from waist to shoulder level and in front or on the sleeves. 8) While scrubbing, keep hands in sight above waist level, and away from the face. 9) When standing on stools, the area of the gown below the waist must not brush against the sterile table. 10) Arms should never be folded; perspiration in the axillary region may lead to contamination. 11) Articles dropped below waist level must be discarded. 12) Scrubbed persons should keep well within the sterile area. A wide margin of Page 11 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 safety should be allowed when passing non-sterile areas. a. Scrubbed persons should: i. Keep a safe distance from the operating table when draping the patient. ii. Pass each other back to back. iii. Turn their back to a non-sterile area when passing. iv. Face a sterile area when passing it. v. Ask a non-scrubbed person to step aside rather than trying crowding past him/her. vi. Stay near and facing the sterile tables if waiting for the animal to be prepped. 13) Persons who have not scrubbed should avoid sterile areas. a. If a person who has not scrubbed must pass a sterile area he/she should face the area when passing to make certain it has not been touched. 14) Moisture allows bacteria to grow around the sterile area causing contamination. 15) Sterile packages should be laid only on dry areas. a. If a sterile package becomes damp or wet, it should be re-sterilized or discarded. b. If a solution soaks through a sterile drape to a non-sterile area, the wet area should be covered with another sterile drape. 16) When bacteria cannot be eliminated from a field, they should be kept to an irreducible minimum. Patient skin cannot be sterilized and is a source of potential contamination from both the patient and members of the operating team. To minimize contamination potential: a. The patient is shaved and scrubbed in the animal prep area and is given a final sterile scrub in the operating room. b. When draping, all skin should be covered except the site of incision, leaving a large enough undraped scrubbed are for the surgeon to work. c. All surgeons and assistants must scrub their hand and arms. d. All surgeons and assistants must gown and glove without touching the outside of the gown and gloves. e. Hand towels should not touch scrub suits while drying hands after scrubbing. f. The knife blade used for the skin incision should be considered contaminated and should not be used deeper than the skin, so a new knife should be used for internal incisions. g. If a glove is contaminated during the procedure it must be changed at once. If an instrument punctures the glove, the instrument must also be handed off and either replaced or resterilized. 17) Ablate all "dead space" during closure- Any pockets or spaces remaining between tissue layers will fill with extracellular fluid or blood and increase the risk of developing seromas or abscesses. This is an abscess waiting to happen. Tacking down tissue layers is an acceptable method used. If this is not possible, use of a drain for 3 to 5 days following the procedure is recommended. 18) Be gentle when handling tissues a. Do not use toothed or crushing instruments if it is not necessary. b. Hold the cut edge rather than grasping in the middle of a tissue layer. c. When tying off vessels include only a minimum of surrounding tissues. d. Use electrocautery or electroscalpels sparingly. They cause significant tissue necrosis. 19) Use appropriate suture techniques a. Any suture that will be buried in tissues should be either absorbable or monofilament (non-absorbable braided suture is irritating and can harbor bacteria). Monofilament suture material such as Nylon is the recommended suture material for skin closures Page 12 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 b. Sutures should be placed evenly and as close to the tissue edge as possible to prevent obstruction of blood flow - typically no more than 1 cm from the edge is necessary in large animals and 0.2 cm in small animals. c. Sutures should only be tightened enough to appose the tissue edges. Any tighter will obstruct blood supply; retard wound healing and may result in dehiscence. d. They may cause the animal to chew or scratch at the incision site. Alternatives include subcutaneous/intradermal closure techniques or tissue adhesive. e. Skin sutures should be a simple interrupted pattern. Continuous skin sutures may be removed by the animal and the wound could dehisce. B. Cleaning Instruments Prior to sterilization, all instruments must be cleaned to remove debris, blood, oil, etc. The two common methods of cleaning include: Manual Cleaning 1) Rinse the instruments in tap water as soon as surgery is over. This prevents blood from drying in serration and box locks. 2) Open all box locks and disassemble instruments. 3) Scrub each instrument with a soft brush in warm water with an instrument detergent with a pH in the range 7.0-8.5. Wear gloves and be mindful of sharp edges on instruments. 4) Inspect each instrument for proper function and cleanliness; particularly box locks, grooved ends, and other areas not readily exposed. a. Rinse the instruments with water (distilled if available) to ensure removal of detergent. Distilled water is used to prevent mineral deposits on the instrument surfaces. If distilled water is not available and tap water is used, hand-dry the instruments to remove mineral deposits from the water. 5) Instrument "milk" can be used to lubricate instruments. Ultrasonic Cleaning Ultrasonic cleaning is a more effective cleaning method than manual cleaning. It can penetrate areas that a hand brush cannot reach. Cleaning is accomplished by the use of high frequency sound waves converted in the solution into mechanical vibrations, which pull soil out of instruments. The ultrasonic method typically removes about 90% of soil. However, it is important to recognize that it does not sterilize, or eliminate the need for initial removal of obvious blood and soil. Ultrasonic cleaning is most effective when it follows a preliminary manual cleaning to remove accessible debris from the instruments. When using an ultrasonic cleaner, always: 1) Follow manufacturer's instructions carefully. 2) Use the detergent solution recommended by the manufacturer. 3) Strictly adhere to the cleaning times and temperatures recommended by the manufacturer. 4) Use distilled water or de-mineralized water. 5) Rinse instruments with box locks open and disassembled. 6) Do not overload cleaner. 7) Inspect instruments carefully on a regular basis; ultrasonic cleaning can accelerate flaking of chrome-plated instruments and loosen small screws in instruments. C. Sterilizing Instruments and Supplies Page 13 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 As described above, the use of sterilized instruments is a critical requirement of sterile survival surgery techniques. The preferred methods of sterilization are high pressure/temperature (autoclaves) for items that can withstand high temperature, and ethylene oxide gas for items that cannot withstand high temperature. Sterilization indicators need be used to identify materials that have undergone proper sterilization. Cold chemical sterilants may be used effectively for many items. The use of liquid chemical sterilizing agents must be conducted in approved facilities with adequate ventilation systems and should be used with adequate contact times. Instruments should be rinsed with sterile water or saline before use. Note: Alcohol is not a sterilizing agent. D. Procedures for Instruments and Supplies 1) All articles to be sterilized must be clean. 2) All articles to be sterilized should be packaged in Heat-sealed paper and transparent plastic pouches or Double wrapped muslin (each 2 layers) that protect them from contamination. 3) Date (must include the sterilization date) and label the sterilized items. If multiple sterilizers are used by a laboratory group, the specific sterilizer should also be indicated on the package. The efficacy of the sterilizing process should be measured at monthly intervals with a biological indicator. Autoclaves not used frequently (less than once a month) will be tested before each use. 4) Packs should not be too densely packed in the autoclave to allow for adequate steam or gas penetration. Indicator test strips are to be placed deep within the pack. 5) Store sterilized items in a clean, dust-proof and low-humidity area. Closed storage cabinets prevent contamination more effectively. Storage under sinks or in places likely to result in wetting is to be avoided. 6) Any sterilized package that is dropped or torn or has come in contact with moisture is considered contaminated and must be cleaned, repackaged and re-sterilized. All packages containing sterile items should be inspected before use to verify package integrity and dryness. 7) If the package has remained intact and dry, items in Heat-sealed paper and transparent plastic pouches may be considered sterile for 1 year regardless of storage location. Items in dDouble -wrapped muslin (each 2 layers) are considered sterile for 7 weeks, if stored in closed cabinets and 3 weeks if stored on open shelves. 8) Veterinary surgical technicians will check sterile packs monthly and before packs are used. Any package considered contaminated will be cleaned, repackaged and re-sterilized. E. Methods and Terminology Page 14 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 Autoclave- Relies on pressurized steam; is extremely reliable and cost effective. However, surgical instruments must be durable (e.g., stainless steel) and the process is relatively slow, from 15 to 60 minutes. Instruments are typically wrapped or sealed in packs that are opened as needed on the day of surgery. o Packs may be stored if they are kept away from moisture. o A preparation date must be put on each prepared pack. o CMR can provide the service of autoclaving instruments and surgical packs for a nominal charge. Ethylene oxide- A gaseous sterilant that requires specialized containment equipment. This is a good sterilization method for supplies that cannot tolerate high heat such as plastics and catheters. It is more costly than autoclaving and typically is performed overnight. The pack requires airing inside a fume hood for 24 hours after exposure to ethylene oxide. UMDNJ Hospital provides this service at a nominal charge. Cold sterilant solutions (hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde, etc.)- Generally, cold sterilants must have prolonged contact time (15 - 60 minutes) to sterilize surgical equipment. Only products classified as sterilants are to be used for sterilizing instruments and implants for surgery and they must be used according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for sterilization. In addition, the instruments must be rinsed completely with a sterile solution like saline to prevent tissue irritation. Note: Alcohol is not a sterilant. o Exposure o The physical properties of the item being sterilized must be relatively smooth, impervious to moisture, and be of a shape that permits all surfaces to be exposed to the sterilant. o All surfaces, both interior and exterior, must be exposed to the sterilant. Tubing must be completely filled and the materials to be sterilized must be clean and arranged in the sterilant to assure total immersion. o The items being sterilized must be exposed to the sterilant for the prescribed period of time. Hot bead sterilizer- This device is a small tabletop unit, approximately 6 x 6 x 8 inches. The appliance heats a small container of Pyrex beads to approximately 250o C and can sterilize the tips of metal surgical instruments in 10-20 seconds. However, only the tips of the instruments are sterilized. It is also necessary to allow the instruments to cool before handling tissue to prevent thermal injury. It is very useful for sterilizing instruments between rodents when performing multiple surgeries. Pre-sterilized items- Many instruments and supplies can be purchased in sterilized packaging. Such items must be used prior to the label expiration date. X. Expired Medical Materials Expired medical materials such as drugs, fluids, and sutures may not be used on any research animal that is to recover from an anesthetic procedure or in a terminal procedure if it will adversely affect research results. The use of such materials under these conditions constitutes inadequate veterinary care under the Animal Welfare Act, USDA Policy #3.5 Note that any compounds administered to animals are covered. Please refer to CMR Policy on Expired materials on the CMR Home page. 1) Expired medical materials such as drugs, fluids and sutures may not be used on any Page 15 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 research animal. This includes but is not limited to include IV fluid solutions, nonemergency drugs (diuretics, contrast material, antibiotics), IV catheters, bandage materials, surgery gloves and suture materials. 5 USDA Animal Care Resource Guide Policy #3 Veterinary Care: Expired Medical materials, Pharmaceutical-Grade Compounds in Research, Surgery, Pre- and Postprocedural Care; Program Veterinary Care; health Records, Euthanasia 2) Expired materials are only to be used on anesthetized animals in terminal studies (non-survival surgical procedures) if the use does not adversely affect the animal’s wellbeing or compromises the validity of the scientific study. a) Injectable drugs or anesthetics when expired may not be used to induce or maintain the animal. b) Any saved expired materials must be clearly and individually labeled as “Expired. For acute use only” and kept together in an area physically separate from all other medical materials and drugs. 3) Inventory of medical materials documentation a) The investigator’s laboratory, surgical/procedure cart, or anywhere an animal is going to undergo a survival surgical procedure will be required to reproduce documentation of inventory of when items expire, thus, ensuring expired items are not used during survival surgery. b) The purpose of the written documentation is in the interest of maintaining animal welfare and to protect the institution’s compliance with Federal Laws and Regulations. c) The CMR Veterinary Staff and members of the IACUC reserve the right to request the documentation of inventory at any time without prior notification. 4) Pharmaceutical Grade Compounds a) Investigators are expected to use pharmaceutical-grade medications wherever they are available, even in acute procedures. b) Non-pharmaceutical-grade chemical compounds should only be used in regulated animals after specific review and approval by the IACUC for reasons such as scientific necessity or non-availability of an acceptable veterinary or human pharmaceutical-grade product. Page 16 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 XI. Medical and Surgical Records Surgical records are both helpful and required by animal welfare regulations. Accurate records allow one to monitor trends and they can be helpful in refining and improving research projects. Complete records also assure compliance with accepted care standards and agreed-upon procedures approved by the IACUC. Records can also be helpful in interpreting research data. 1. Individual medical records are maintained for: • • • • • • Woodchucks Rabbits Dogs Cats Swine Non-Human-Primates 2. Types of medical record forms: Name of Form Daily ObservationProcedure Form Color Blue Staff Use CMR and Research Staff Daily ObservationProcedure Form Green CMR and Research Staff Appetite Watch or Monitoring Forms White CMR and Research Staff Laboratory Animal Examination Form Anesthesia Record Yellow CMR staff only White CMR and Research Staff SurgicalProcedureObservation Tan Surgeon/person completing the procedure Care of Long Term Non-rodent Laboratory Animals ImmunizationParasite Chart Purple CMR staff Pink CMR staff Indications for Form All medical observations and research procedures EXCEPT the following as listed below All medical observations and research procedures EXCEPT the following as listed below: To document how the animal is eating and/or what it is eating or specific research information needed to assess an animal At time of receipt of animals only Upon administration of premed/preop drugs until the wound is closed To be completed before the surgeon/technician leaves the operating or procedure room At time of completion of care e/g/ physical exam, bath, grooming, pedicure At time of fecal exam, change of food regimen, immunization, all body weights Page 17 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 3. All heading on paperwork must be filled out completely for each individual sheet and side. 4. Keep the medical records with the animal including during laboratory procedures. There are extra blank sheets in the folder or in the animal room. Contact CMR veterinary staff if you need more blank sheets or a photocopy of the medical record. 5. All research and CMR staff must document all handling of the research animals including but not limited to: • • • • • • • • • • Drug or fluid administration. Controlled, non-controlled and over-thecounter drugs are included. Include the date, time, dose (mg/kg?, volume and route of administration. Imaging 9x-rays, MRI, ultrasound) Fluid collection (blood, CSF, urine collection) Physical restraint, or transport to the laboratory IV catheter placement (location, gauge, and reason for placement) Observation: include subjective (e.g. behavioral) and objective (e.g. rectal temperature) assessment and plan treatment of relevance. Food or water deprivation (including pre-anesthetic fasting) Suture removal, bandaging Any post-operative complication encountered – e.g. delayed recovery from anesthesia, bleeding from incision site, etc. Itemization of all care and monitoring provided to the animal such as wound cleaning, bandage changes, flushing of indwelling catheters, body temperature, heart rate, etc. as described in the approved IACUC protocol. 6. Date, note the time and initial all entries. 7. Required information is to be provided in SOAP format (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan/Treatment) (See chart below) S = Subjective Demeanor BAR = bright, alert, responsive; means the Appetite (A) animal is acting like his/her usual self QAR = quiet, alert, responsive; means the animal is quiet, is not like itself. It usually does not move about much, however s/he is alert and sees and responds to the environment Feces (F) can be indicated with + or - sign; amount eaten or left is required if animal did not eat all offered can be indicated with + or - sign; explanatory notes should be added if anything is abnormal Page 18 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 Depressed = means Urine U = can be indicated with + or sign, if doubt occurs about urine production the following observations must be made → Incision Site/Area CDI = clean, dry, intact; any other condition must be noted in the records and possibly treated animal is quiet, does not move about much, may be guarded and usually does not eat and is either painful or not feeling well. S/he may also be in an altered state of consciousness *Other Behaviors not normally seen in the species Other Info Hydration = within normal limits (WNL) or dehydration. *If animal is dehydrated, steps must be taken in consultation with CMR Veterinary Staff Abdomen If urinary retention is suspected, a full bladder may be palpated Note: Any bandages, patches, or other visible items if they are CDI or if they have any problems and how they are rectified. Any exercising of animals should also be documented for enrichment purposes and to state that the animal has had an opportunity to stretch their legs. This also gives the animal the opportunity, during postoperative recovery via removing the animal from cage, to urinate or defecate. O = Objective SPO2 Indicates oxygen saturation of tissues Pulse or Heart Rate (P or HR) are measured pos-op until WNL; RS should be checked during days post-op, especially if animal is not recovering as expected can indicate pain or distress (RS = respiratory system) Mucous Membranes (MM) Temperature (T) must be measured post-op until WNL Respiratory Rate (RR) *Dogs and rabbits check for 7 days *Pigs and cats check for 3 days Capillary Refill Time (CRT) *Aggressive animals check day of recovery and only if possible without injuring yourself or the animal (NHP, woodchucks) can indicate pain or distress Use of < or > signs with time designation - Indicates the time frame of how fast the blood is reperfusing through the tissues indicates the healthiness of tissues including perfusion and hydration also the moisture content of the mouth can be an indication of the hydration level of the animal A = Assessment This is where notes are made indicating the condition of the animal: example: painful?, comfortable, good recover, stable, anorexic/poor appetite P/TX = Plan/Treatment Page 19 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 Here is where noted administration of any treatments such as analgesia or antibiotics. Any medication administered should include notes on dose, route, and frequency of administration. Treatments must be administered according to IACUC protocol, however, if for any reason that does not seem appropriate, consult with CMR Veterinary Staff. Records are required for all animals undergoing terminal or survival surgery. The CMR will provide the anesthesia record along with a “cheat-sheet”, which contains the anesthetic drugs for induction and antibiotics according to investigator’s protocol and CMR Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). • Surgical anesthesia monitoring sheet must have all heading s filled out. This includes: animal identification, current body weight, estimated body weight, drugs administered, brief description of surgical procedure, surgeon, and any other information listed in the heading. • Surgical records and postoperative records can be maintained in the investigators laboratory notebooks. However, surgical and post-surgical records must also be kept in patient’s record and accompany the animal in the vivarium to all veterinary staff to oversee any animal. XII. Pre-Operative Approval Successful surgery includes proper surgical planning. Proper planning means adequate assessment of patient and experimental needs, discussion of the surgical plan with the surgical team prior to initiating anesthesia, and preparation of the surgery room and instruments. 1) Animals should be allowed to stabilize in weight, temperature, eating, behavior, and physical state before chronic survival surgery. Usually, this occurs during the quarantine or acclimation period. The physical status of an animal (observation, TPR, blood work, radiography) should be evaluated to ascertain whether the animal is a good surgical candidate and appropriate for surgery. These parameters of well-being or (if abnormal) of distress include: Behavioral Observation Physiologic Measures Grooming Appetite Activity Facial expression Temperature Pulse/heart rate Respiration Weight loss Cardiac output/perfusion Blood gas levels Hematology and Serum Chemistry Serum chemistry (Superchem) CBC, differential Clotting parameters Vocalization Appearance Posture Response to handling Aggression Water intake Hydration Urine and fecal output 2) Criteria for approval for surgery include: a. Completing and submission of the Surgical Scheduling form. Page 20 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 b. Availability of all necessary personnel and satisfactory preparation of their roles. c. Equipment and supplies required for the planned procedures must be available. d. Location and nature of surgical facility. e. Preoperative animal health assessment criteria. f. A “Cheat-Sheet’ with the description of pre- and post-surgical medications i. Received after the processing of the surgical scheduling form. g. Expected postoperative care and identification of all needed supplies. h. Any required training and/or acclimatization to restraining devices has been completed. i. Patient evaluation – Does the animal appear healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure (see above chart for complete list) i. Current body weight 1. Swine are estimated based upon 10% per week increase in body weight 2. Non-Human primates are estimated 0.1-0.3kg higher than most recent weight 3. All other species can be weighed prior to surgery. ii. Evaluate mucus membranes, capillary refill time. iii. Evaluate temperature, pulse and respiration rate. iv. Evaluate RBC, WBC, hematocrit, kidney and liver function tests, when possible v. All documentation must be in the medical record 48 hours prior to approved surgery. XII. Fasting Pre-Operative Fasting It is recommended that most animals be fasted prior to the induction of anesthesia in order to minimize the possibility that vomiting will occur during induction and to decrease abdominal distention, which can compromise respiratory function when excessive. Fasting animals should still have free access to water. Restricting water results in dehydration and more difficult anesthesia. Recommended time periods for fasting animals are listed below: Dog, cat, pig, nonhuman primate, rabbit, woodchuck: Overnight (12-16 hours) for AM surgery or fasting at 7am for same day afternoon surgery (the animal must have a minimum of 4 hours fasting time) Ruminant: 24-48 hours Rodents: no fasting required6 CMR will provide blank red fasting cards when investigative staff is responsible for fasting. 6 Generally, rodents do not have a vomit reflex, and therefore cannot regurgitate during surgery. Rabbits and woodchucks do not vomit, but experience has shown that they recover better post-operatively when fasted prior to surgery. When gastrointestinal surgeries are performed on rodents, it is often desirable to fast these animals prior to surgery in order to reduce the volume of ingesta. Consult the veterinary staff for advice regarding the length of time feed should be withheld from rodents. Page 21 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 XIV. Surgeon Preparation Each member must develop a surgical conscience, a willingness to supervise and be supervised by other regarding the adherence to standards. Without this cooperative and vigilant effort, a break in sterile technique may go unnoticed or not be corrected, and an otherwise successful surgical procedure may result in failure because of complications due to infection. The patient must be protected from organisms that can be carried and shed by the surgeon. These organisms reside on the surgeon’s skin, hair, in the nose or mouth, or may be carried on dust particle from the floor or room surfaces. This route of contamination is minor compared to the patient’s own flora; however, it is a significant source of contamination in some types or forgery. Those personnel having cold, sore throats, open sores, and/or other infections should not be permitted in the operating room, especially during virus injections and primate surgical procedures. Surgery must be performed or directly supervised by trained, experienced personnel A. Survival Surgery 1. Required garb for a survival surgery, including dental procedures where the soft tissue is manipulated (cut and sutured) are clean surgical scrubs (pants and shirt), shoe covers, face mask and bouffant or surgical hat. Eye protection must be used where aerosolized material is generated. PAPR or N95 respirator must be used when viral or allergenic contamination, or rDNA material are part of the procedure. a. Head covers and face masks should cover all facial hair. b. Remove all rings, jewelry and wrist watches before scrubbing. Fingernails should be trimmed short and cleaned with a disposable nail cleaner. 2. All members of the surgical team having direct contact with the surgical site must perform the surgical hand scrub before the operation. The hands and arms should be scrubbed for 5-7 minutes with a disinfectant such as povidone iodine or chlorhexidine, rinsed with water and dried with a sterile towel prior to gloving. a. Note: As much as 30% of the time, gloves become perforated during surgery, exposing the animal’s tissues directly to the surgeon’s skin. In such a case, gloves must be replaced. b. A complete surgical scrub and reqowning must be done for each patient. 7 c. All materials and instruments used in contact with the site must be sterile. d. Non-sterile articles must not come in contact with sterile articles. 3. After using proper hand scrubbing technique, the surgeon steps into the surgical suite to be assisted in putting on a sterile surgical gown and sterile gloves. a. Operating room attire (which includes scrub suits, gowns, head coverings, show covers and face masks) should not be worn outside the operating room suite. If such occurs, change all attire __________________________________________________ 7 For rodents, with the exception of woodchucks, it is sufficient to change gloves only between patients Page 22 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 4. 5. 6. 7. before re-entering the clean area. (The operating room and adjacent supporting areas are classified as “clean areas”.) The surgeon and surgical assistants must wear sterile gowns and sterile gloves for all survival surgery. They must not touch anything that is not sterile. a. The gowns worn by surgeons and scrubs assistant(s) are considered sterile from shoulder to waist (in the front only), including the gown sleeves. b. If sterile surgical gloves are torn, punctured, or have touched an unsterile surface or item, they are considered contaminated. Surgical assistant(s) who do not directly participate in a survival surgery must wear a face mask, bouffant or surgical hat, shoe covers, and use either clean gloves to hand non-sterile supplies or sterile surgical gloves for sterile supplies. Eye protection must be used where aerosolized material is generated. PAPR respirator or N95 respirator must be used when viral vectors, rDNA or other airborne hazardous agents are used. All disposable supplies and garb must be removed and disposed of into the designated garbage can/basket after leaving the operating room. All materials exposed to blood must be disposed of in red biohazard plastic bags. B. Non-Survival Surgery 1. Required garb for a non-survival surgery or dental procedure where the soft tissue is not manipulated (cut and sutured); only – clean long-sleeved surgical gowns, bouffant or surgical hats, masks, shoe covers and gloves. Eye protection must be used where aerosolized material is generated. PAPR or N95 respirator must be used as above. C. Non-Human Primate Surgery • All portions of surgeon preparation must be followed to ensure the safety of the surgeon, surgeon assistant, non-sterile assistants, and the NHP. 1. Required garb for a primate survival surgery, including dental procedures where the soft tissue is manipulated (cut and sutured), are clean surgical scrubs (pants and shirt), shoe covers, face mask and bouffant or surgical hat, shoe covers, plus mandatory eye protection (goggles, face shields). a. Head covers and face masks should cover all facial hair. b. Remove all rings, jewelry and wrist watches before scrubbing. Fingernails should be trimmed short and cleaned with a disposable nail cleaner. 2. All members of the surgical team having direct contact with the surgical site must perform the surgical hand scrub before the operation. The hands and arms should be scrubbed for 5-7 minutes with a disinfectant such as povidone iodine or chlorhexidine, rinsed with water and dried with a sterile towel prior to gloving. a. It is recommended to wear two pairs of surgical gloves, although not required. Page 23 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. b. Note: As much as 30% of the time, gloves become perforated during surgery, exposing the animal’s tissues directly to the surgeon’s skin. In such a case, gloves must be replaced. c. A complete surgical scrub and reqowning must be done for each patient. After using proper hand scrubbing technique, the surgeon steps into the surgical suite to be assisted in putting on a sterile surgical gown and sterile gloves. a. Operating room attire (which includes scrub suits, gowns, head coverings, show covers and face masks) should not be worn outside the operating room suite. If such occurs, change all attire before re-entering the clean area. (The operating room and adjacent supporting areas are classified as “clean areas”.) The surgeon and surgical assistants must wear sterile gowns and sterile gloves for all survival surgery. They must not touch anything that is not sterile. a. The gowns worn by surgeons and scrubs assistant(s) are considered sterile from shoulder to waist (in the front only), including the gown sleeves. b. If sterile surgical gloves are torn, punctured, or have touched an unsterile surface or item, they are considered contaminated. Surgical assistant who does not directly participate in a survival surgery must be dressed in a clean long-sleeved gown or Tyvec suit, face mask, bouffant, show covers, plus mandatory eye protection (goggles, face shields) and use either clean gloves to handle non-sterile supplies or sterile surgical gloves for sterile supplies. Required garb for a primate non-survival surgery consists of long-sleeved surgical gowns or disposable coveralls (lab coats are not acceptable), face masks, bouffant hats, shoe covers, plus mandatory eye protection (goggles, face shields). In case of accidental bite, scratch, cut, needle stick or any injury where operator may have been exposed to NHP body fluids (saliva, sputum, blood, urine, semen or vaginal secretions) when working on a primate of the genus Macaca, follow CMRSOP for Herpes B exposure. This SOP is present in a bite kit (Tupperware container) in the surgical suites and in animal housing rooms. All disposable supplies and garb must be removed and disposed of into the designated garbage basket lined with red biohazard plastic bags when leaving the operating room. Generally, as long as any non-human primate remains in the surgical suite, all human operators must remain gowned up (for details, refer to CMR SOP on Non-Human Primates). Page 24 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 XV. Anesthetist Responsibilities Anesthesia and intra-operative monitoring The anesthetic agent, dose, and route of administration must be described in the approved IACUC protocol. Personnel involved with surgical procedures must be competent in administering and monitoring anesthetic depth in the animals and in the particular species with which they are working. If needed, additional doses of anesthetic may be required during a surgical procedure. General signs of inadequate surgical anesthesia include: • Movement in response to painful stimuli (toe pinch, needle prick) • Reflex activity: corneal reflex, foot/leg movement in response to toe pinch, etc. • Increase in muscle tone, e.g. increased jaw tone as surgery progresses • Increase in respiratory or heart rate, increase in blood pressure • Movement, and/or vocalization during the surgery 1. Anesthetic and patient monitoring must be the only role of the anesthetist during the surgery. a. The animal must be attended at all times b. If the anesthetist must leave operating room for any reason, another certified/approved anesthetist must be present in their absence. 2. The “cheat-sheet” is to be followed in administration of any sedative, tranquilizers, anticholingergics (atropine), analgesic antibiotic and other anesthetic treatments. a. All drugs should be calculated and drawn-up prior to surgical procedure. b. Any changes on the “cheat-sheet” must be made prior to surgical procedure. c. All syringes must be labeled clearly with contents and animal identification. d. The date and initials of preparation of drugs must be present either on the syringe or on the bag the drugs are stored in. e. In case of surgical cancellation, drugs that have been drawn up are only good for 24 hours to a maximum of one week depending upon the manufacturer’s set shelf life as directed on the bottle or the insert. 3. All anesthetists are to be ready in time to anesthetize their patients. a. Machines are to be checked, equipment prepared, IV fluids checked, etc., before this time. b. Anesthesia machine must be pressure checked. c. If CMR provided equipment fails, contact the CMR veterinary technicians for assistant. 4. The patient must not remain on the table for more than 60 minutes prior to the start of surgery. If the surgeon is delays and has not entered the operating room and has not been scrubbed and gowned within60 minutes after the patient has been ready on the table, the anesthetist will stop the anesthesia, recover the patient and return the patient to the recovery room. 5. Monitor anesthesia continuously and record physiological parameters in the medical record or the anesthesia record every 5-10 minutes. Page 25 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 Documentation of the following should be noted on the anesthesia record, but not limited to the following: o = Respiration (when not on ventilation) • = Heart Rate − = SPO2 6. Monitoring of anesthetic levels/depths should be checked and documented every 15 minutes such as: a. Reflexes – They are to be absent and muscle tone is relaxed during surgical anesthesia i. The pedal withdrawal reflex, eyelid/eyelash reflex, palpebral reflex, and the tone of jaw and anal sphincter muscles can be readily evaluated in larger mammals. ii. Ocular position and papillary size are unreliable indicators of dept of anesthesia. However, a widely dilated pupil, with little or no iris visible, should always cause concern, since it may be the result of an excessively deep plane of anesthesia or hypoxia. b. Respiratory signs – SPONTANEOUS BREATHING: i. Anesthetists should monitor the rate, rhythm, and depth of respiration and mucus membrane color. ii. An increase in respiratory depth, regular rhythm, and decrease in respiratory rate signifies surgical anesthesia. iii. Cyanotic mucus membranes indicate hypoxemia from inadequate lung ventilation. ANIMALS ON VENTILATOR: i. If an animal is fighting or bucking the ventilator, the animal may have a partly collapsed lung, increase in carbon dioxide build-up, and/or may not have adequate anesthesia. ii. Respiratory arrest usually precedes cardiovascular collapse. c. Cardiovascular signs – A slowing heart rate indicates surgical anesthesia depth. i. An increase in rate (tachycardia) during the performance of a surgical procedure often indicates that the depth of anesthesia is not adequate and or insufficient amount of oxygen. ii. A decrease of rate (bradycardia) during surgery may signify an excessive depth of anesthetic. iii. Blood Pressure (BP) must be documented on the anesthesia record, when made available, to document the maintenance of the blood volume and adequate perfusion. d. Body Temperature (T) – Anesthetics usually cause a depression of body temperature. Body temperature can be measured rectally. Maintaining of body temperature at normal levels allows more rapid metabolism of anesthetic agents. To avoid hypothermia, body temperature should be monitored and Page 26 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 maintained throughout the anesthetic process and postoperative period. Conservation of body heat is an integral part of anesthetic management. Core body temperature can fall precipitously during general anesthesia, especially in small animals. i. To avoid burns, heating pads should be wrapped or covered to prevent direct contact with the animal. ii. If the heat source is inadequate, immediate steps must be taken. These steps may include, but are not limited to, additional sources of heat such as heat lamps, heat packs and warmed IV fluids. 7. Documentation on the anesthesia sheet must also include the following: a. Drug or fluid administration. Controlled, non-controlled and over-the-counter drugs are included. Include the dose (mg/kg), volume and route of administration, and changes in rates. b. Observations. Include complications encountered, ties when various procedures and other relevant sequence of procedures. 8. Supplemental fluids- Prolonged surgeries, procedures longer than 30 minutes, require placement of an IV catheter and intraoperative fluid supplementation. a. Fluid administration may be continued into the postoperative recovery period. b. A calculation of 24 hour percent fluid maintenance requirement should be made PRIOR TO surgery for each patient.8 c. A calculation and notation on the anesthesia sheet of the total 24 hours percent requirement fluid administered should be calculated and noted on the anesthesia sheet after surgery is completed. 9. The surgical-procedure-observation chart must be completed in order to document the surgeon’s presence and the surgical procedure. 10. The anesthetist should not leave the patient in the Post-Operative Recovery Room until satisfied with the patient’s stability (which is outlined in the pos-operative recovery portion of the document), or until patient care responsibly has been transferred. ______________________________________________________________________ 8 Total fluid requirements for animals with body weight of less than 10 kg = 44ml/kg X body weight (kg) Total fluid requirements for animals with body weight of more than 10 kg = 66ml/kg X body weight (kg) Page 27 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 Indications of Anesthetic Overdose Monitoring vital signs continuously during anesthesia will provide early warning of potential problems and emergencies that may be averted by appropriate and quick corrective actions. Do not rely on a single parameter to assess the animal’s condition. All parameters should be evaluated prior to initiating any corrective actions. The following indicators of overdose, which may lead to cardiac or respiratory failure, are helpful in assessing the animal’s status during anesthesia. − Heart Rate may be rapid or slow, depending on the state of physiological decompensation. − Remember anticholingergics cause the heart rate to increase. − Pulses may be weak, slow, irregular, or even imperceptible. − Blood pressure will be reduced if blood loss is significant, patient is in shock, or pending cardiac arrest. − Capillary refill time progressively slows to 3 or more seconds indicating blood pressure is inadequate to perfuse peripheral tissues. − Respiration may be slow, irregular, shallow, often become diaphragmatic, and may eventually cease. Paradoxically, respirations may increase in response to low blood oxygen and high blood carbon dioxide during deep anesthesia. − Mucus membrane and skin color, depending on the animal’s skin pigmentation, may be pale to cyanotic from poor perfusion of capillary beds and low blood oxygen. − Low blood oxygen from hypoventilation causes cyanosis, although tissue perfusion may be normal. − Significant hypothermia requiring immediate action is defined as equal to or lower than 95oF. Anesthetic Overdose Corrective Actions See Cardiopulmonary-Arrest Emergency Manual located in the Animal Prep Room. XVI. Patient Preparation The majority of post-procedural infections are the result of contamination of the surgical site with resident or transient skin bacteria from the patient. Therefore, decontamination of the surgical site and prevention of contamination from other areas is the best means of preventing post-procedural infections. ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION 1. Verify animal’s identification with animal's medical record, cage card, and at least one of the following prior to administering anesthesia: a. b. c. d. ear tag tattoo grease mark ear notch PREMEDICATION Premedication, usually composed of a tranquilizer and an anticholinergic, is frequently administered in the animal’s home cage. After this has taken effect (15 – 30 minutes) the animal is transported to the appropriate room for induction of anesthesia. Page 28 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 PLACEMENT OF IV CATHETER This can easily be done in some species before they are anesthetized (cats, dogs, rabbits); however, other species require to be anesthetized before they can be safely or easily handled (pigs, monkeys and woodchucks). INDUCTION Induction may also be performed in the animal’s home cage, or, if the animal is easily manageable, in the CMR lab/pharmacy or in the animal prep room next to the surgery. Induction is induced by an agent which causes the animal to loose consciousness and be amenable for endotracheal intubation prior to placing the animal on the gas anesthesia machine. It may be accomplished either by an injectable agent or by masking the animal down with the anesthesia gas. 1. Preparation is facilitated by first inducing anesthesia via injectable anesthetic or gas anesthetic. 2. After the animal has been anesthetized, the eyes should be lubricated with a sterile ophthalmic ointment (Paralube®) to prevent corneal drying. 3. Lube the penis of male rabbits and cats with lubricating K-Y jelly (the penis relaxes out of its sheath during surgery, which may dry the penis out causing painful urination later on. 4. Intravenous catheter placement a. This area should then be prepared by performing a surgical scrub. This consists of three cycles of scrubbing the area with Betadine or Nolvasan scrub solutions; wiping the area after the scrub with 70% isopropyl alcohol and then re-scrubbing. Always scrub from the intended vascular puncture site, outward in a circular pattern. b. Use of an ear splint must be used when placing intravenous catheters in pig and rabbit ears. This is to give added support to the ear. 5. Blood withdrawal a. Alcohol swab i. Once blood is obtained, apply pressure to prevent hematoma ii. Blood may be collected at the time of surgery for preoperative CBC, Differential and Serum Chemistry. However, it is preferred to collect blood for above tests in sufficient time prior to surgery to have these data available prior to scheduling patient for surgery. 7. Endotracheal Intubation a. Carefully observe the animal for signs of anesthetic depth and that the appropriate level has been achieved to allow endotracheal intubation, i. Use of gas anesthesia requires turning off the anesthetic gas, and remove nose mask. ii. Use of injectable anesthesia requires careful induction of anesthesia; it is given to effect within a specific range documented on the cheat sheet. b. Intubate the animal with a sterile endotracheal tube (ETT). i. Proper ETT preparation i.e. Cuff inflates, tighten end of tip Page 29 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 c. Check to ensure proper placement of the tube via stethoscope and condensation in the ETT. d. Listen to both sides of the chest using a stethoscope to ensure that ETT is placed to provide ventilation bilaterally e. Tie the ETT to the upper jaw or behind ears using muzzle gauze f. Inflate the cuff. g. To maintain an Isoflurane surgical anesthetic plane, connect ETT to connection hosing on the anesthetic machine and administer approximately 1-2 liters/minute of oxygen in conjunction with Isoflurane at 0.5-3% or to effect. h. To maintain oxygenation only, connect ETT to connection hosing and administer approximately 1-2 liters/min of oxygen. PATIENT PREP 8. The patient's hair should be removed from the surgical site. a. This should be completed with an electric clipper (#10, #40 or #50 blade) or depilatory rather than a razor. b. Depilatory creams may be applied to the surgical site, but they may cause contact dermatitis which may interfere with the healing process. c. Hair removal should be performed immediately prior to the surgery. d. In the current survival surgical suites, the clippers are attached to a vacuum system to remove the hair as one shaves. e. The surgical area to be prepared should be approximately 2-3 times the size needed for the incision. 9. While in the animal prep, the patient's skin should be scrubbed with a disinfectant such as povidone iodine or chlorhexidine scrub. a. Scrubbing should start at the center of the surgical site and move to the outside in a linear or circular manner. b. Typically two- three scrubs with a disinfectant and then two-three with 70% alcohol or sterile water to remove debris are used.9 10. When the animal is moved to the operating area, it should be positioned on a heating pad on the surgical table. To avoid burns, heating pads should be wrapped or covered to prevent direct contact with the animal. 11. The surgical approach will dictate actual animal position; however, some guidelines to consider are: a. The animal's respiratory function should not be compromised by overextension of forelegs stretched towards the head, or by excessive body tilt which causes pressure from the abdominal organs on the diaphragm. b. Limbs should not be extended beyond their normal range of motion and restraint straps should be padded as needed to prevent impaired venous return in extremities. c. Placement of animals placed in special equipment such as a stereotaxic unit must have frequent checks to make sure head is stabilized and air way via ETT is clear/open. ______________________________________________________________________ Page 30 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 9 It may not be appropriate to scrub the site of some patients. Scrubbing the skin of a fish or amphibian will remove the protective bacterial slime layer, and may actually increase the risk of infection. 12. Ruminants are frequently positioned on a slight incline with the head dependent to minimize the potential for aspiration of rumen fluids. After intubation with an endotracheal tube, a large bore stomach tube is also frequently placed down the esophagus to remove rumen fluids and gas. 13. After the animal has been secured, any monitoring devices such as ECG electrodes, monitoring thermometer, blood pressure cuffs, and esophageal stethoscopes should be placed and their function tested. 14. Starting of intravenous fluids at the appropriate rate as per cheat sheet to surgery is started and documented on the anesthesia monitoring sheet 15. The animal should be ready for final preparation of surgical site with disinfectant. One to two sets of scrubs should be completed, then, a disinfectant solution like povidone iodine is painted onto the surgical site and left to dry. 16. Following the final preparation of surgical site, see Section A under Principles of Asepsis for proper surgical preparation of surgical site. XVII. Operating Room Emergency Evacuation10 Fire alarms are intermittent in the Medical Science Building and occur approximately once monthly. Depending on the location of the suspected fire, all personnel are requested to evacuate the building. Evacuation of operating staff during a surgery poses a dilemma as to either rapidly conclude the procedure or alternatively euthanize the patient. An anesthetized animal cannot be left unattended. Because the animal usually represents a considerable expenditure in time and money, and it would be inadvisable to euthanize an animal unnecessarily. The following procedures are in place to exempt surgical staff from prompt evacuation in response to a fire alarm. Response to Fire Alarm 1. When a fire alarm sounds, the CMR Contact Person (Director, Assistant Director, Chief Clinical Veterinarian or most senior CMR staff) will listen to the announcement indicating action to be taken and floors required to be evacuated and contact the staff in the surgery suite(s) and Procedure Rooms to inform staff that a fire alarm is being investigated. 2. The CMR Designated Contact Person will monitor the situation. If the fire alarm is part of a scheduled drill or a false alarm the surgery team(s) will not be required to evacuate. 3. If not due to a scheduled drill or false alarm and while the alarm is being investigated surgery teams will not be required to interrupt surgery or leave the surgery suite. 4. If the fire alarm does not appear to be due to a drill or false alarm the CMR Contact will: a. Decide if the situation merits immediate evacuation of the surgical team. b. Call the surgery suite(s) and Procedure rooms or walk to the surgery suite(s) and update the team on the fire alarm status every 5 minutes. c. The CMR contact person will also relay their status to the CMR designated contact person on the outside, which is scheduled to be completed every 10-15 minutes. Page 31 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 5. While waiting for confirmation of fire alarm, a member of the surgery team will prepare to euthanize the animal if this should be required. 10 CMR Emergency Procedures for Escape and Evacuation in Response to Fire or Fire alarm 6. If evacuation of building is deemed necessary or if a fire or smoke condition is noticed in the area: a. The animal on the table will be humanly euthanized. b. The surgery team will evacuate the building via i. A-level evacuation: Door SA24 which is to the left of the janitor’s closet. ii. G-level evacuation: Either use the stairs next to the regular elevators or the entrance into the hospital, which is on the orthopedic section of MSB G-level XVIII. Loss of Electric Power Please note that the G-level surgery suite does not have emergency electric power outlets in the operating suite. A. If the MSB or part of it loses electric power, emergency lighting comes on within a few seconds as follows: a. A-level i. Every third light in the corridor on A-level comes on. ii. No lights in the animal rooms come on, but flashlights are present in the animal rooms. iii. Ceiling lights in the A-level surgery suite comes on. iv. Any machines or instruments connected to the RED EMERGENCY OUTLETS continue to receive electric current and to function. If the emergency outlets fail follow the procedure under b. MSB G-level section 2. b. MSB G-level i. The surgical suite does not have emergency power, because there are windows in this surgery suite, loss of light is not disastrous. ii. Emergency procedures when animal are connected to gas anesthesia machine and/or ventilator. 1. Turn the ventilator off 2. Remove the conducting tube which connects the ventilator to where the rebreathing bag attaches 3. Connect the rebreathing bag back onto the machine 4. Open up the ALP valve (pop-off valve) ½ way 5. Resuscitate using the rebreathing bag (this will ensure that the gas anesthesia and/or oxygen is getting into the patient) Page 32 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 XIX. Post-Operative Recovery "Appropriate facilities and equipment should be available for postsurgical care. Postsurgical care should include observing the animal to ensure uneventful recovery from anesthesia and surgery; administering supportive fluids, analgesics and other drugs as required; providing adequate care for surgical incisions; and maintaining appropriate medical records. Equipment and supply items that can be helpful for intensive care include heating pads, vaporizers, vacuum equipment, respirator, cardiac monitor, and oxygen. Proper monitoring by trained personnel should be provided during recovery." Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Post-surgical care begins with completion of the surgery to recovery from anesthesia to post recovery. The period may extend for days to weeks depending on post-surgical outcome and study design. Post-surgical care includes after-hours and weekend care and is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator and the CMR Veterinary Technical Staff. Technical services are available as fee for service. Research staff desiring to provide their own postop care must be approved as outlined in CMR Policy for Surgery in Large Animals. A. RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS 1) Maintaining records of care given via medical records: These records must include at least a twice daily (BID) assessments and treatments given. Other items that are included in the record are any pharmaceutical or other agents and time administered, nursing care provided and a BID SOAP summary (See XVI. Medical Records). Post-operative records are required by the USDA on all species covered under the AWA and must be readily available for review in the same room with the animal. 2) Administration of fluids, analgesics, antibiotics, and other medications as indicated in the approved IACUC protocol and/or consultation with CMR veterinary staff 3) All proper PPE is to be worn when posted for recovery rooms requiring such materials. B. Post-surgical care includes the following: 1) Adequate Acute Post-procedural Monitoring: 1. All postoperative animals are to be closely observed for the initial 24-72 hours post-surgical procedure period. It is important to assess whether or not the animal has returned to normal behavior. Animals, which do not return to normal, often have surgical-related infections/complications and require re-evaluation. 2. Surgical incision sites must be observed for the first 24-72hours post-surgery for clinical signs of infection or suture breakdown. 3. Temperature monitoring and support provided during recovery period. a. Provision of supplemental heat during anesthetic recovery, as needed. b. Provisions of cooling during anesthetic recovery, as needed. 4. Endotracheal tubes should be kept in place as long as possible; they must be removed when the animal begins to chew or swallow. An animal with an ET in place must not be left alone and unobserved. Page 33 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 5. The animal must be monitored and data collected every 10-15 minutes until the: a. vital signs are stable b. animal has regained consciousness c. animal can maintain sternal recumbancy d. the need for analgesia has been thoroughly assessed. 6. Parameters which are to be monitored and recorded 10-15 minutes until stable. Body Temperature CRT Heart Rate Behavior/Character Respiratory Rate (RR) Pattern of RR MM Jaw tone Palpebral reflex Incision area If any discharge is noted (blood, fluids) Body's position in cage (left or right lateral recumbancy, sternal) *see note below If on fluid drip, note that it is still working 7. Reference Ranges for the parameters per species. If the range is above or below the parameters for longer than 60 minutes, report the situation to the CMR veterinary staff. Heart Rate (bpm) RR (breaths/ min) 90-100% 60-135 Oct-48 90-100% 110-140 15-40 90-100% 120-180 35-50 90-100% 90-100% 90-100% 90-100% 130-250 60-80 60-80 60-120 120-150 Summer 12-60 Winter 30-620-Oct 18-20 Aug-40 30-50 Summer 4-12 Winter Species SPO Dog Cat Primate (Cyno) Rabbits Goats Sheep Pigs Woodchuck 2 90-100% Body o Temp ( F) 100.4102.5 100.4102.5 98.6103.1 100.4-103 101.3-103 101-103 101-103 96.8100.4 MM (color) CRT (sec) Pink <2 Pink <2 Pink <2 Pink Pink Pink Pink <2 <2 <2 <2 Pink <2 8. Once stable parameters are met, every 30-60 minutes checks can be conducted. 9. If an animal is unable to move into different positions, the animal must be repositioned into another position every 30 min to 1 hour. Alternating between placing the animal in Left Lateral Recumbency (LLR) and Right Lateral Recumbency (RLL) is frequently best. This change in position must be noted in the Medical Records. Request help for larger animals to decrease the opportunity for personal and animal injury. If moving the Page 34 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 animal will cause personal injury or injury to the animal, do not move animal and inform CMR veterinary staff of situation. 10. Food or water should not be available in the cage until the animal is fully recovered or considered stable for the night. 11. Ability of animal to maintain normal physiology such as body temperature and fluid balance must be assured before leaving the animal for the night. 12. IV catheters are to remain only up to 3 days maximum. a. If it is required longer, the original catheter is removed and a second catheter is placed. b. If the catheter is not needed or required, it can be taken out earlier, but is recommended to be removed the next morning after surgery in case it is required for the administration of emergency drugs C. Adequate Analgesic Support: 1. Administer post-operative analgesics as required. 2. All animals subjected to surgery must have analgesic agents (painkillers) available to them for at least the initial 24-48 hours post-surgery. 3. The analgesic that should be used depends upon on species and “severity” of surgical manipulation. If the use of analgesic interferes with the experimental design, prior IACUC approval must be obtained. D. Adequate Antibiotic Support: 1. Administer post-operative antibiotics as required. 2. Depending upon several factors perioperative and postoperative antibiotics are administered for a shorter or longer time postop. These factors include but are not limited to: a. Duration and invasiveness of surgery, b. Whether instrumentation was implanted during surgery c. Whether indwelling catheters or cannulas were implanted d. Age and immune status of animal e. Body system operated on (orthopaedic procedures usually require longer term administration of antibiotics) 3. Several antibiotics are available for a variety of species. The antibiotics that should be used depend upon on species and “severity” of surgical manipulation. 4. If the use of antibiotics interferes with the experimental design, prior IACUC approval must be obtained. Page 35 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 5. If antibiotics are being used, they should be administered before surgery, so that they are in tissues when the surgeon is performing surgery. 6. An appropriate antibiotic should be administered at an adequate dose at the recommended frequency to minimize the development of resistance. 7. Antibiotics should not be used in place of surgical asepsis and good tissue handling techniques. E. Adequate Chronic Post-procedural Monitoring: 1. Monitoring post-procedural complications a. Provide analgesia for any procedures with potential for pain or distress b. Administer antibiotics to prevent post-procedural infections c. Monitor incisions for swelling, exudates, pain or dehiscence d. Monitor catheters & devices e. Monitor for procedure-related complications such as organ failure, thrombosis, ischemia. 2. Monitoring and management of chronic indwelling devices such as catheters or implants. For example, indwelling catheters typically require flushing with anticoagulant solutions and chronic electrodes may require daily wound cleaning and debridement. Skin suture / staple removal: Generally speaking, all sutures / staples MUST be removed 14 days following the procedure. a. Most sutures can be removed by 10 days. b. It may be appropriate to remove some sutures / staples as early as 3-5 days, leaving the required ones for a longer period of time for complete closure. c. The goal of the staples/sutures are to keep the skin margins closed (thereby discouraging infection, or the risk of infection), while not allowing the staples / sutures to become a nidus for infection or distress to the animal. d. Sutures/staples do have a defined life span, after which they are not needed, and can only serve to cause problems for the patient and the research data. e. Absorbable sutures are left in place and are gradually absorbed by the tissue. f. If there are any questions concerning the removal of the sutures/staples consult the veterinarian. F. Species Specific Post-operative/Post-procedural Documentation Guidelines The minimum frequency of observation and care of patient and documentation in the patient’s medical record is twice daily including weekends and holidays for the first seven days postop. More than twice daily may be required based upon the patient’s condition. Documentation can be changed based upon the recovery of the patient. The frequency can increase if the animal requires to be monitored more closely. Page 36 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 G. Exceptions ALL Pacing Animals are monitored BID until humane endpoint has been reached. All animals on antibiotic treatment are monitored BID and temperature taken as needed. All animals on analgesics are monitored BID. Major surgical procedures NHP’s are monitored BID until humane endpoint Minor surgical procedures on NHP’s are monitored BID for 7 days. Simple procedures requiring anesthesia for health checks or procedural examinations require monitoring until the animal is stable and next morning monitoring. XX. Assessing Pain and Distress A fundamental approach to assessment of pain in laboratory animals does not begin with chemical or biological evaluations. The key to adequate assessment lies in the hands of the animal care personnel, technicians, laboratory specialists, and researchers. It is here that clinical observations and abnormal behavior should be recognized as possible identifying factors of pain in animals. It is, therefore, essential that all personnel involved in the care of animals are well versed in normal animal behavior patterns and even with the individual animal and that they recognize any deviation form the normal or usual pattern. The conscientious laboratory animal personnel performing daily routine functions should identify changes in personality, eating habits, physiological functions, etc. Such observations should be reported quickly to the clinical veterinarian or appropriate animal health care official. Good communication among all animal health care personnel is essential. Early recognition of abnormal signs or any deviation from usual daily animal performance can mean the difference between mild, moderate, or severe pain. Anticipating when signs of pain may occur is an important part of minimizing and preventing unintended suffering in animals. This can be accomplished by a thorough knowledge of expected results of all experiments which are known or are likely to produce pain and distress. Clinical veterinarians should review each protocol for assessment of research which may cause pain, stress, distress, discomfort, or suffering to animals. This review also will reveal proposed drug usage which could interfere with or react with post-procedural pain medications. Review of protocols prior to performance and review of drug literature and analgesics known not to interfere with the experimental design or protocol can enhance treatment of post-procedural pain. Knowledge of the general responses of animals to a given procedure is important in the assessment and management of pain. Knowledge of an animal’s disposition and normal physiological functions prior to execution of experimental protocols is extremely helpful in determining whether an animal is in pain. Aggressiveness, attempting to bite, hissing, and/or withdrawal can be Page 37 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 interpreted as signs of pain. However, if such behavior was present prior to manipulation and is characteristic of the individual animal in question, then these indices are not necessarily indicative of pain or suffering. It cannot, however, be assumed that the animal is not in pain, and a thorough assessment for post-procedural pain should be performed. Comparison of pre- and post-procedural behavior may indicate that the animal is still growling, hissing, or attempting to bite, but movements or attempts to escape may be minimal to none. The importance of being aware of pre-procedural traits cannot be over-emphasized. A. Signs of Acute Pain Guarding (of affected area) – protect or move away Crying or vocalizing on movement or palpation Mutilation – excessive licking, biting scratching Heavy breathing Restlessness – pacing, lying down, getting up Sweating, Lacrimation Recumbancy – lying down for a long period B. Signs of Chronic Pain or Illness Limping or carrying limb Licking area of body Reluctance to move Loss of appetite Change in personality Dysuria (painful urination) Bowel lassitude (ileus) Animals not mobile 24 hours post-surgery Not eating or drinking C. Species-Specific Behavioral Signs of Pain Species Vocalizing Posture Locomotion Temperament Other Signs Dog Whimpers, howls, growls Cowers, crouches, recumbent Reluctant to move; awkward, shuffles Varies from chronic to acute, can be subdued or vicious, quiet or restless Panting, biting, licking or scratching Cat Generally silent, may growl or hiss Stiff, hunched in sternal recumbancy, limsb tucked under body Reluctant to move limb, carry limb Reclusive Unkempt appearance, papillary dilation Primate Screams, grunts, moans Head forward, arms across body; huddled and crouching Favors area in pain Docile to aggressive, decreased activity Decrease in food and water intake Page 38 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 Rabbits Goats Apprehensive, dull, sometimes aggressive depending on severity of pain, Postparturient female may eat neonates Ocular discharge, protruding nictating membrane, constipation or diarrhea Piercing squeal on acute pain or fright; Teeth grinding Hunched, faces back of cage Inactive, drags hind legs Grunting, teeth grinding Rigid, head lowered, back humped Limps, reluctant to move the painful area Dull, depressed Rolling, frequently looking at or kicking at abdomen Disinterested in surroundings, dull, depressed Rolling, frequently looking at or kicking at abdomen From passive to aggressive depending on severity of pain Anorexia Sheep Grunting, teeth grinding Rigid, head down Limps, reluctant to move the painful area Pigs From excessive squealing (fright and/or pain) to no sound at all All four feet close together under body, changes in gain or posture Unwilling to move, unable to stand Woodchucks Page 39 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 XXI. Sanitation11 Sharps Container – A red container with a controlled opening for safe and proper disposal of needles, syringes, scalpel blades, and opened ampules. Do not overstuff the container. If a new container is needed, contact the CMR supervisor. Red Trash Bags – Used for biohazard trash articles including any material with blood. Black Trash Bags – Used for non-contaminated trash articles. Blue Trash Bags –Used radioactive trash articles Glass – Any glass item, broken or unbroken, should be disposed of in the properly designed disposable glass box. Infectious materials. Infectious materials must be rendered safe by sterilization, decontamination, or other appropriate measure before disposal as described in the IBC or EOHSS generated and approved document. Radioactive waste. The removal and disposal of all radioactive waste must be handled according to the Office of Radiation Safety Services (ORSS) as described in the ORSSgenerated protocol document. Chemical waste. Proper disposal of hazardous chemical waste is very expensive. Thus, researched are urged to minimize generation of hazardous chemical waste. For detailed information refer to the current annual revised Notification of hazardous Materials Program available through Environmental Heath and Safety. Chemicals and carcinogens in animals are reviewed by EOHSS at the time of the review of the IACUC protocol and handled according to the EOHSS-generated documents. Infectious or biohazardous waste. Hazardous biological waste must be bagged and properly autoclaved or chemically sterilized, if appropriate. Autoclaved bags should be labeled to avoid alarming uninformed employees or the public. Place bags in special designated containers near autoclave. Broken glassware and sharps must be disposed of in proper containers and securely packaged by lab personnel before disposal. Questions concerning the disposal of hazardous agents must be directed to the Environment Health and Safety Department. Protocol specific procedures are reviewed and approved at the time of the review of the IACUC protocol. A. Operating Room Sanitation Procedure: 12 CMR will be responsible for the sanitation of the surgical suites and proper maintenance. 11 CMR SOP on Surgery and Procedure Room Sanitation and Maintenance 12 Please refer to CMR SOP on Surgery and Procedure Room Sanitation and Maintenance Page 40 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009 XXII. References Animal Welfare Act: Code of Federal Regulations: 9 CFR Chapter 1 Subchapter A, Parts 1, 2 and 3 Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, NRC, National Academy Press, 1996 Johns Hopkins University: http://www.jhu.edu/animalcare/committee_surgicalsuites.html Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy, 1985). University of Illinois Medical Center University of Michigan, ULAM Michigan State University, MSU http://web.uccs.edu/osp/compliance/animalsubjects/guidelines.html http://www.iacuc.ucsf.edu/Policies/awGlAsepSurg.asp http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/surgery.html http://vetmed.duhs.duke.edu/guidelines_for_general_surgery_in_animals.html http://www.rgs.uci.edu/ora/rp/acup/policies/surgerypolicy.html http://www.utmem.edu/compmed/Surgery.html http://research.uiowa.edu/animal/?get=esasept http://www.iacuc.uconn.edu/ XXIII. COMPILED BY Douglas Larsen, DVM, Kelly Conway, BS, LATG Peter Condobery, MS, BVSC&AH Eva B. Ryden, PhD, DVM, DACLAM Page 41 of 42 CMR Operating Room Procedures and Postoperative Care 9/27/06 Revised: March 10, 2009