Course catalogue doctoral education - VT24

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Title Anaesthesia, analgesia and surgery (mice and rats)
Course number 2996
Programme 0-Not part of doctoral programme
Language English
Credits 1.5
Notes A Laboratory Animal Science course.

Date 2017-11-28 -- 2017-11-30
Responsible KI department Comparative medicine
Specific entry requirements Students need to complete a laboratory animal science course on how to carry out scientific procedures on the appropriate animal species i.e. EU Function A or equivalent course.
Purpose of the course Training in anaesthesia, analgesia and surgery is both essential, and a legal requirement, for all those who need to undertake such procedures on laboratory animals. Applying appropriate techniques to in vivo studies enhances outcomes from research studies, reduces data variability, and is perceived as ethically acceptable. The course includes problem solving sessions, which encourage students to reflect on the application of the course content in their own research area, and encourages them to discuss and explain their work with other participants.
Intended learning outcomes The course is designed to meet the learning outcomes specified by the training recommendations supplied as an annex to EU Directive 2010/63/EU. Swedish legislation was amended to meet the requirements of this Directive in 2013. After completion of this course, the students should be able to meet the defined learning outcomes as set out in the EU modules 20, 21 and 22. Each module requires both theoretical knowledge, and acquisition and demonstration of practical skills. The list of suggested learning outcomes by the endorsed guidelines is comprehensive, but in summary, participants will acquire the knowledge and skills to anaesthetize animals safely and humanely, assess and alleviate post-surgical pain, and be able to conduct surgical procedures competently, using appropriate aseptic technique.
Contents of the course The course provides guidance and information to individuals who, during their research work with animals, will need to apply sedation or anaesthesia and who will undertake surgical or other painful procedures. It includes details of methods of assessing, preventing and alleviating animal pain. The course will include training in the most recently developed behavioural measures of pain, including use of grimace scales. Monitoring of animals during anaesthesia, and coping with problems and emergencies are explained and demonstrated. Potential interactions between anaesthetic and analgesic agents and specific research protocols are also explained and discussed.
Training is given in the principles of pre-operative animal assessment and care, preparations for surgery, aseptic technique and the principles of successful surgery. The module provides information about possible complications, post-operative care and monitoring along with details of the healing process. It also covers more practical elements for example the demonstration of commonly used instruments and provides an opportunity for trainees to practice some of the practical aspects of basic surgical technique, such as methods of suturing, and using appropriate non-animal models.
Teaching and learning activities The course will adopt a blended learning approach that combines seminars, discussions, interactive sessions and practical components. Nine seminars will be given:
- Introduction to anaesthesia - basic principles and definitions, anaesthesia and the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement), selection of anaesthetics.
- Preparation for anaesthesia, inhalational anaesthesia.
- Injectable anaesthetics.
- Monitoring anaesthesia and intra-operative care.
- Long term anaesthesia and use of ventilators and neuromuscular blocking drugs.
- Post-operative care - fluids, nutrition and nursing care.
- Pain assessment and pain alleviation.
- Surgery and aseptic techniques (1).
- Surgery and aseptic techniques (2).
Two interactive problem based sessions will be included, using Audience response systems to facilitate discussions. An audience response system will also be used throughout the seminars to encourage participation and engagement by the students. The seminars incorporate video material and supplemental material is provided via on-line e-learning components.

Laboratory practical sessions (5-6 hours) on anaesthesia and surgical skills are interspersed with the seminars and interactive sessions.
Compulsory elements All sessions and active student participation are compulsory if the student is to be provided with certification of the successful completion of the course. Missed parts of the course as a consequence of a well-justified absence will need to be compensated after agreement with the course director e.g. with written assignment or in future course editions.
Examination Practical skills are assessed during the laboratory session using DOPS (direct observation of practical skills), and a short answer/multiple choice question final written examination is held following conclusion of the course. A pass/fail criteria will be used as a global rate for this course, a level of supervision for the prospective work on animals will be assigned, as suggested in the EU guidelines endorsed by the Swedish competent authority for the protection of animals used in science.
Literature and other teaching material Detailed notes (compiled by the lecturer) are provided, that support all of the specified learning outcomes. Additional teaching materials are available on-line at www.flairelearning.com (anaesthesia for minor procedures and assessment of pain and distress). Copies of all seminars and transcripts of interactive and discussion sessions are provided to the students. As the key reference material, the students are referred to: Flecknell, PA, (2015) Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia, Elsevier, 4th Edition, New York.
1. Bukhari, Qasim, et al. ""Resting State fMRI in Mice Reveals Anesthesia Specific Signatures of Brain Functional Networks and Their Interactions."" Frontiers in Neural Circuits 11 (2017).
2. Cooper, Dale M., Robroy Mciver, and Richard Bianco. ""The thin blue line: a review and discussion of aseptic technique and postprocedural infections in rodents."" Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science39.6 (2000): 27-32.
3. Descovich, Kris A., et al. ""Facial expression: An under-utilised tool for the assessment of welfare in mammals."" ALTEX (2017).
4. Faller, Kiterie ME, et al. ""Refinement of analgesia following thoracotomy and experimental myocardial infarction using the Mouse Grimace Scale."" Experimental physiology 100.2 (2015): 164-172.
5. Flecknell, P.A. (2015) Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia, 4th Edition, Elsevier, New York.
6. National Research Council of the National Academies (2009). Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals, National Academies Press, Washington D.C.
7. Uhrig, L., S. Dehaene, and B. Jarraya. ""Cerebral mechanisms of general anesthesia."" Annales francaises d'anesthesie et de reanimation. Vol. 33. No. 2. Elsevier Masson, 2014.

Internet resources:
8. E-learning modules: www.flairelearning.com
9. Aseptic Technique in Rodent Surgery: http://www.procedureswithcare.org.uk/aseptic-technique-in-rodent-surgery/
Number of students 8 - 16
Selection of students Selection will be based on the relevance of the course syllabus for the applicant's doctoral project (need to use anaesthetic or surgical techniques in rodent models), which will be according to written motivation. If necessary, additional selection criterium will be used based on the date for registration as a doctoral student (priority given to earlier registration date).
More information Face-to-face teaching will be held from Tuesday to Thursday between approx. 9 am and 5 pm. Location: Learning Lab, von Eulers väg 4A, 2nd floor. Key topics of this course include basic and advanced anaesthetic and analgesia, and basic surgical procedures on laboratory animals, with focus on anaesthesia, pain recognition and analgesia in rodent models. The main instructor of this course is internationally-recognized expert Professor Paul Flecknell, MA, VetMB, PhD, DECLAM, DLAS, DECVA, (Hon) DACLAM, (Hon) FRCVS, author of the Handbook Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia, 4th Edition, and a number of research publications and educational material in the field. and editor of the Manual of Microsurgery on the Laboratory Rat.
Additional course leader
Latest course evaluation Not available
Course responsible Rafael Frias
Comparative medicine
085246660
rafael.frias@ki.se
Contact person -