Are laparoscopic procedures considered major surgery?
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals , 1996 states : “Major surgery penetrates and exposes a body cavity or produces substantial impairment of physical or physiologic function. Multiple major survival surgical procedures on a single animal are discouraged but may be permitted if scientifically justified by the user and approved by the IACUC [Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee]. For example, multiple major survival surgical procedures can be justified if they are related components of a research project, if they will conserve scarce animal resources, or if they are needed for clinical reasons. If multiple major survival surgery is approved, the IACUC should pay particular attention to animal well-being through continuing evaluation of outcomes. Cost savings alone is not an adequate reason for performing multiple major survival surgical procedures.” OLAW recognizes the authority of the IACUC to determine whether specific manipulations used in research are major o
