Surgery & Post-Op

Strategies to improve survival from surgery for heart valve implantation in sheep

Sheep are a commonly used and validated model for cardiovascular research and, more specifically, for heart valve research. Implanting a heart valve on the arrested heart in sheep is complex and is often complicated by difficulties in restarting the heart,...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Vis, A., Lammers, J. C. A. M., de Vroege, R. et al. 2021. Strategies to improve survival from surgery for heart valve implantation in sheep. Comparative Medicine 71(3), 235-239.

Buprenorphine, but not lidocaine, effectively attenuates post-operative thermal hypersensitivity in an incisional model in neonatal rats (Rattus norvegicus)

There is limited information on safe and effective neonatal rodent analgesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and duration of analgesia provided by buprenorphine (Bup) and lidocaine (Lid) in an incisional pain model. Male and female...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Analgesia, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Katz, E. M., Huss, M. K., Jampachaisri, K. et al. 2021. Buprenorphine, but not lidocaine, effectively attenuates post-operative thermal hypersensitivity in an incisional model in neonatal rats (Rattus norvegicus). Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 47(1), 1-11.

Hypothermia during general anesthesia interferes with pain assessment in laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Accurate pain assessment methods are necessary to ensure animal welfare and reliable data collection in animal research. The Rat Grimace Scale (RGS), a facial expression pain scale, allows effective identification of pain. However, the potential confounds of this method remain...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Surgery & Post-Op, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Klune, C. B., Robbins, H. N. K., Leung, V. et al. 2020. Hypothermia during general anesthesia interferes with pain assessment in laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus). JAALAS 59(6), 719-725.

Prewarming followed by active warming is superior to passive warming in preventing hypothermia for short procedures in adult rats (Rattus norvegicus) under isoflurane anesthesia

General anesthesia is a common procedure in laboratory rats; however, it impairs thermoregulation, rapidly leading to hypothermia as warm core blood is distributed to the cooler periphery. The protective strategy of prewarming before the onset of anesthesia delays hypothermia, but...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Rufiange, M., Leung, V. S.Y., Simpson, K. et al. 2020. Prewarming followed by active warming is superior to passive warming in preventing hypothermia for short procedures in adult rats (Rattus norvegicus) under isoflurane anesthesia. JAALAS 59(4), 377-383.

Multiple refinements to the anaesthetic protocol for laparoscopic orthotopic kidney auto-transplantation in a pig model

Fifty-four pigs (Sus scrofa, Large White cross) from a commercial pig farm were anaesthetised over a six-year period from October 2011. The procedural stages included initial instrumentation for intra-operative monitoring, laparoscopic nephrectomy, preparation of the kidney graft, orthotopic auto-transplantation by...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Analgesia, Anesthesia & Sedation, Cannulation, Catheterization, & Intubation, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Musk, G. C., Kershaw, H., He, B. 2019. Multiple refinements to the anaesthetic protocol for laparoscopic orthotopic kidney auto-transplantation in a pig model. Laboratory Animals 53(1), 72–78.

Using subcuticular stitching in rats to replace skin closure clips as a refinement

Skin closure clips are widely used within the University of Edinburgh to close incision sites for various procedures in both rats and mice. In rats the skin closure clips very often come out as a result of cage mates biting...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Thomson, J., Mungall, W. 2019. Using subcuticular stitching in rats to replace skin closure clips as a refinement. Animal Technology and Welfare 18(1), 75-76.

Use of air-activated thermal devices during recovery after surgery in mice

Laboratory mice (Mus musculus) are susceptible to hypothermia, especially during anesthetic events, disease states, and exposure to environmental stressors. Thermal support devices for small mammals are numerous, but often require a power source and may be impractical to use for...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Beale, C. N., Esmail, M. Y., Aguiar, A. M. et al. 2018. Use of air-activated thermal devices during recovery after surgery in mice. JAALAS 57(4), 392-400.

Perioperative support reduces mortality of obese BALB/c mice after ovariectomy

The incidence of obesity is on the rise in most western countries and represents major risks to health. Obesity causes complex metabolic dysfunctions and can be associated with a large number of secondary diseases. To investigate causal mechanisms of obesity...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Reproduction, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mattheis, L., Jung, J.-S., Hiebl, B. et al. 2016. Perioperative support reduces mortality of obese BALB/c mice after ovariectomy. Lab Animal 45(7), 262-267.

Alternatives to single caging of rhesus monkeys

Single-housed rhesus macaques were transferred to permanent pair-housing arrangements. The present investigation also demonstrates that pairing caged rhesus monkeys with compatible conspecifics does not interfere with a number of common research protocols [e.g., headcap implantation, experimental surgery, blood collection]. Our...

Year Published: 1989Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V. 1989. Alternatives to single caging of rhesus monkeys. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 3, 123-125.

Videotape viewing as enrichment during recovery of hospitalized monkeys

During videotape exposure monkeys did not remove their sutures. Animals that had previously withdrawn from food were observed eating during videotapes showing primates eating.

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: O'Neill-Wagner, P. L. 2000. Videotape viewing as enrichment during recovery of hospitalized monkeys. American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Regional Conference Proceedings, 8-16.