Question

Discuss in detail about general surgical principles and instruments

Answer 1

General Principles of Surgery

Prepare in Advance

Consult with a Penn State veterinarian during experimental planning and IACUC protocol preparation. All aspects of the surgical procedure(s) and post-operative care of animals must be described in your IACUC protocol. This includes surgical anesthetic and post-operative pain relief procedures.
Make a list of all the supplies that you will need (e.g., instruments, drugs, clippers, suture material, heating pads, etc.).Arrange to have an assistant available.Study a description of the procedure and practice the technique on cadaver animals before using live animals.

Use Aseptic Technique

Aseptic technique encompasses all procedures designed to prevent the introduction of bacterial contamination into the surgical wound. Aseptic technique includes:

The use of sterile instrumentsAppropriate surgical preparation of the patientThe use of sterile gloves and appropriate attireAppropriate location for conducting the surgeryMaintenance of sterility throughout the surgical procedure

Handle Tissues Gently

The success of a surgical procedure is directly related to the skill of the surgeon. Tissues must be handled gently to minimize bleeding, swelling, inflammation and post procedural discomfort. Poor surgical and tissue handling techniques are additional variables that will influence data collection and can compromise your research.

Develop your surgical technique by practicing on representative models or cadaver animals before proceeding to live animals. Do not try to collect data from practice animals. As your skill level increases with practice, the time it takes you to complete the procedure and the amount of trauma you cause to the animal will decrease. This variable will affect post-operative recovery, physiology and behavior and may compromise research results.

Monitor the Animal's Condition

Animals must be anesthetized during surgery. The depth of anesthesia must be such that the animal is not able to feel pain or other sensations during the procedure yet not so deep that breathing and heart function are compromised. The ARP website provides information on anesthetic and analgesic medications availa