Rationale:

Surgical procedures are a common component of animal research protocols and the IACUC is required to assess the details of these activities. Multiple major survival surgeries are discouraged by the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide) and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

Definition:

Major survival surgery is defined in the Guide as a surgery which “penetrates and exposes a body cavity or produces substantial impairment of physical or physiologic functions.”

Policy:

The IACUC may approve the use of more than one major survival surgery on a single animal if:

• there is a scientific justification provided in writing by the PI, or
• the surgeries are required as routine veterinary procedures or to protect the health or well-being of the animal as determined by the attending veterinarian.

Principal Investigators may not transfer animals between protocols if the animal will receive a major survival surgery procedure on both protocols.

Applicability:

This policy applies to all researchers who perform multiple major survival surgeries on vertebrate animals.

Contact Information:

For any additional questions concerning this policy, please contact the IACUC Manager at 5-6420.