Project Objectives

• Systematically review existing evidence on aseptic surgical techniques and peri-operative care for rodents.
• Survey national and international researchers to assess current rodent surgical practice.
• Identify gaps and challenges in existing procedures through expert discussion.
• Develop evidence-based best-practice guidelines for rodent surgery.
• Create training modules, including webinars, videos, and practical courses, to support widespread adoption.

3Rs Impact

• Refines animal procedures by improving aseptic technique and peri-operative care, reducing complications and recovery time.
• Reduces animal use by decreasing postoperative losses and improving data consistency.
• Enhances reproducibility, lowering the number of animals required to achieve statistically robust results.
• Raises awareness and strengthens researcher competence, ensuring sustained improvements in rodent surgical practice.

Background

Rodent surgery is central to many experimental studies. However, while advances in anaesthesia and analgesia have been widely adopted, surgical practice itself remains inconsistent and often suboptimal. In contrast to human and veterinary medicine, where aseptic technique and structured peri‑operative care are well‑established, researchers performing rodent surgery frequently rely on outdated protocols or insufficient training. This discrepancy occurs despite legal requirements for surgical practice across species.

Current literature reveals a lack of standardised, evidence-based guidelines for rodent aseptic technique and peri-operative care. Rodents also pose unique challenges: their small size requires specialised instruments, and their widespread use in genetically modified strains and sanitized environments may increase susceptibility to postoperative complications. Subclinical infections or inadequate care can negatively affect scientific outcomes as well, by increasing variability and compromising reproducibility.

This project addressed these issues through a comprehensive, multi‑step approach: conducting a systematic review, surveying researchers across Switzerland and Europe, identifying gaps with key opinion leaders, and developing guidelines and training modules. By creating and disseminating standardised best practices, the project aims to significantly refine surgical procedures, reduce post-surgical complications, and raise welfare standards across laboratories in Switzerland and beyond.