Background

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide, NRC 2011) and the USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations states that multiple survival surgical procedures on a single require scientific justification by the Principal Investigator. Further, the Guide states that multiple surgeries on a single animal should be evaluated to determine their impact on the animal's well-being. The number of survival surgeries must be limited to the minimum number to achieve the research objectives and must be determined with due consideration to minimizing pain and distress on any one animal.

IACUC Policy

Protocols that propose multiple survival surgical procedures on a single animal must provide scientific justification in the protocol. The only exception is to protect the health of an animal as determined by the Attending Veterinarian or designee. Cost savings is not an adequate justification for multiple survival surgeries. 

Justification must include an explanation of the need to have an animal undergo multiple survival surgeries, the name of the surgeries, the total number of surgeries an animal will undergo, the frequency of the procedures, the period of time between procedures, and the methods used to minimize pain and distress. It is recommended that the investigator provide references when possible. Adequate time between procedures must be provided so that the animal can return to pre-surgical homeostasis (return to pre-surgical weight and hydration status, etc.). Supportive care and adequate analgesia must be provided to the animals between procedures.

The IACUC may require periodic reporting from the Principal Investigator to track the outcomes of the multiple survival procedures.

Approved: December 2012

Revision Approved: October 2017, September 2019, November 2022