Areas Used for Animal Surgery

The IACUC reviews and approves all surgical areas. In addition, all surgical areas are subject to inspection during semi-annual facility inspections.

All areas used for surgery in animals must be designed and managed to achieve the following:

• Separation of the animal/surgeon preparation, operating room and recovery areas.
• Minimization of personnel traffic flow through the surgery area
• Airflow should be away from the surgery area if possible (i.e., positive room pressure, use of filtered or laminar-flow air).
• All surfaces must be non-porous and easily sanitized. Unsanitizable surfaces (e.g. cloth-upholstered chairs) should be removed to an area where live animals are not used.
• A regular room-cleaning and disinfection schedule must be established (daily cleaning of floors and work surfaces, weekly to monthly cleaning of walls and cabinets).
• The surgery area should be free from clutter.  Excess items not required for the procedure should be stored in cabinets or drawers.

• A dedicated three-room (prep, operating and recovery) surgical suite is not required for the performance of surgical procedures in rodents.  However, the space must be designated/reserved exclusively for surgery while in use and appropriately managed to minimize contamination from other activities in the room while surgical procedures are being performed. 

NOTE:  Investigators are responsible for cleaning shared surgical facilities after each use.

ULAR maintains several large-animal surgical suites in UCI vivaria; investigators are encouraged to contact Veterinary Services for more information.