Date: Revised July 2009
Reference:   Administrative Panel on Laboratory Animal Care

Guidelines for Anesthetic Monitoring
of Non-rodent Species

STANFORD UNIVERSITY
The Administrative Panel on Laboratory Animal Care (APLAC)

DIRECTIONS: Review the following material. Keep copies of guidelines with applicable protocols. You may find it helpful to post a copy of these guidelines in your laboratory. Questions should be forwarded to the APLAC office, 723-4550.

TRAINING: Training in these techniques and the humane treatment of laboratory animals during the procedures is taught by the Veterinary Service Center (VSC) staff. All new personnel who will be performing these techniques should contact VSC staff for training (725-9901).

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GUIDELINES FOR ANESTHETIC MONITORING OF NON-RODENT SPECIES

Records of anesthetic monitoring activities are required during all anesthetic procedures in order to assure that animals are receiving adequate care. The required minimal standard written documentation required is: 1) annotation of vital parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature, etc.); 2) anesthesia/analgesia information - agent(s) used, time(s) administered, dose, and route of administration (i.e., 2% isoflurane via face mask or 40 mg/kg pentobarbital IV); and 3) complications experienced during anesthesia. This record should be in the form of handwritten or typed information, recorded every 15 minutes, on the sample Surgery Monitoring Form (or equivalent) found on the final two pages of this document. Additional information can be written as clearly labeled notations in a lab notebook or printouts from physiologic monitoring machines. These records must be maintained and made available at all times for inspection by regulatory agencies, the APLAC, or the VSC to ensure that adequate care of the animal has occurred during all experimental manipulations, and that procedures are in compliance with the approved APLAC protocol.
Personnel Safety when Working with Anesthetic Gases

Exposure to anesthetic gases (e.g., isoflurane) can cause adverse health effects. These include behavioral changes, physical impairment, or headaches from exposure to sub-anesthetic concentrations, as well as reproductive or hepatotoxic effects from chronic exposure. Therefore, it is important that when working with anesthetic gases, personnel exposure is reduced by ensuring the following:

1. Work in a vented fume hood or make use of proper gas delivery (i.e., precision vaporizer) and scavenging equipment (i.e., charcoal canister, active scavenging through building exhaust). Gas must not be vented into the room. All equipment must be maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and documentation of proper maintenance retained and available for review in the laboratory. For recommendations regarding the proper equipment for gas anesthesia, please contact the VSC.
2. Ensure that there is a tight seal around the animal's face when using an anesthetic mask.
3. Inspect and clean anesthetic masks, nose cones, and induction chambers immediately before and after use to guarantee a proper fit/seal and optimum working condition. Use of a suitable disinfectant (i.e., Virkon™) will also assist in prevention of cross-contamination.
4. All personnel must be properly trained in the use of anesthetic gases.
   If laboratory personnel have concerns about exposure to anesthetic gases, please contact Environmental Health and Safety (723-6336) to arrange to have the laboratory equipment reviewed and personnel monitored.

Contact: APLAC Administrator
Last updated: July 2009

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SAMPLE SURGERY ANESTHETIC MONITORING FORM (pdf)