The article discussed the guidelines on rodent survival after its surgical operation. These guidelines were written based from the observations made from surgeries done on rodents at East Tennessee State University. The guidelines have been prepared and accepted by their committee on animal care to serve as source of knowledge for the qualified researchers and technical staff, and to function as an instruction manual for students and other people who have little or no experience on the field of experimental surgery. Other kinds of procedure being performed in experimental surgery, aside from the one laid down by the National Institutes for Health, must be brought to their attention for proper evaluation and approval of the committee on animal care.
The article stated the various procedures being performed before, during, and after the operations. Prior to the operation, the processes include isolated place for the aseptic or clean procedure. However, the aseptic procedure can also be done in a traditional laboratory provided the place is clean, properly disinfected and sanitized, and draped by sterile linens. The rodents shall be abstained from foods as part of the standard operating procedure of surgery. Moreover, such activity shall decrease their gastro-intestinal contents and will give additional intra-abdominal space for the surgeon.
Feeding them prior to the operation may be done if the purpose is to draw the attention of the surgeon to anatomical parts or to mete out pre-medications to the animals. Anesthetic methods and materials shall be chosen and done properly in order to prevent unnecessary contamination of the staff. All throughout the process, the rodents must remain unconscious or anesthesized with its vital signs thoroughly observed as well. The room where the operation must be done should be different from the room where surgical site was made, and the hair of the rodents in the surgical site must be plucked or clipped in a distance of at least two centimeters around the incision. The surgical site should be disinfected to avoid bacterial infections. The article listed the various products for disinfecting the area.
The operative procedures must be executed or supervised personally by a skilled and qualified person. The individuals in charged of the operation should wash and dry their own hands prior to wearing surgical gloves as well as to use clean clothes such as clean laboratory gown and surgical mask prior to the operation itself. Their hairs should be secured as to prevent obstruction or have them covered by a cap. The article revealed the various surgical processes as well as the various medicines to be used, and the different incisions to be made. It also stated precautionary measures to observe proper handling of the operations as to avoid contaminations of the subjects as well as the operators themselves.
The guideline pointed out some of the requirements or post surgical concerns that must importantly be considered such as maintaining the dryness and warmth of the animal, as well as its closed monitoring until it regains its previous stamina and energy. The animal should be observed everyday and will only be returned to its cage upon complete recovery from anesthetics.
Lastly, the article also mentioned the numerous anesthetics and analgesics to be used, and euthanasia methodology being performed on rodents in cases of their limited survival possibilities.