Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, Yale University

Yale University
Institutional Animal Care
& Use Committee
New Haven CT
USA 06510

Return to list of Standard Operating Procedures

Standards for Postoperative Care (non-rodent)

I. General Considerations (refer to Appendix I):

A) Start-up meeting
	Postoperative plans must be formulated at the start-up meeting and modified as needed during the postoperative period.
B) Postoperative plans
	Veterinary Clinical Services (VCS) must be notified if problems develop postoperatively, or if there is a change in the postoperative plans.
C) Postoperative Records
	Postoperative records must be kept with the animal until recovery is complete, sutures removed and/or therapy discontinued. Records must include the following:
	General
		IACUC protocol number
		animal ID number
		investigator name
		procedure date
		procedure performed
		complications during surgery
		anesthetic administered
		total fluids administered during procedure and immediately postoperatively
	Daily
		name of person assessing the animal
		date and time of treatment
		medication (include drug dosage (mg/kg), route and time of administration).
		fluid administered (include type, route and time of administration).
		attitude and appearance (support observations)
		appetite
		urine and fecal output
		appearance of incision (support observations)
		pain assessment (refer to appendix IV)
		temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate (species dependent: difficult with nonhuman primates).
D) Postoperative Care
	Trained personnel should observe the animal from the completion of surgery until the animal has recovered from anesthesia sufficiently to maintain itself in sternal recumbency.
	There are two stages of postoperative recovery. Immediate postoperative recovery encompasses the time from the completion of surgery until the animal attains sternal recumbency. Intermediate postoperative recovery encompasses the time from sternal recumbency until the sutures are removed.

II. Immediate Postoperative Recovery Period (until sternal recumbency is maintained and vital signs are stable). Refer to Appendix II

A. Maintain a patent airway by proper positioning of the animals head and neck. (Extubate only when the oropharyngeal reflex is present and after deflating the cuff).
B. Vital signs:
		monitor temperature, pulse, respiration, and capillary refill time( refer to Appendix V) every 15 minutes
C. Rotation:
		turn animal side to side every 15 minutes unless contraindicated.
D. Blood Loss:
		monitor for hemorrhage (from wound or internally) every 15 minutes.
E. Pain Assessment
		assess pain( refer to Appendix IV) every 15 minutes.
F. Heat Loss:
		keep animal warm using warm water circulating blankets, not electric heating pads. Heaters, lamps, or hot water bottles may be used but avoid overheating.
G. Excoriation:
		keep animal dry, change soiled or wet bedding frequently.
H. Hydration:
		maintain hydration and fluid balance.
		calculate volume as described in appendix II
		fluids to 37° C (no higher)
		preferred fluid for IV or SQ administration is Lactated Ringers (normal saline can also be used).
		hydration is assessed by mucous membrane moistness/dryness, skin turgor and urine output.
I. Analgesia:
		administer analgesics based on frequent assessment of animals pain (refer to Appendix IV).

III. Intermediate Postoperative Recovery Period (until sutures are removed and/or therapy discontinued). Refer to Appendix III.

A. Monitor the animal daily, more often if complications occur. Assess and record the following:
		Appetite
		Fluid Intake
		Urine and Fecal Output
		Incision
		Attitude changes
		Pain (refer to Appendix IV.)
		Appearance
		Temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate(species dependent: nonhuman primates difficult).
		Capillary Refill Time (species dependent: nonhuman primates difficult).

REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE IACUC: 2/28/2000