Retrospective review of anesthetic and analgesic regimens used in animal research proposals

Abstract

Pain has a profound effect on an animal's wellbeing. In Germany, researchers using animals have been legally required since 1972 to reduce any possible pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm to an absolute minimum. To evaluate how these provisions have been implemented in practice, an assessment of refinements to experimental techniques was conducted by retrospectively reviewing 684 surgical interventions described in 506 animal research applications that were sent to the German competent authorities for approval in 2010. This paper focuses on the efficacy of proposed anesthesia and peri- and postoperative analgesia. Postoperative analgesia was not proposed for 30 % of surgeries. Following 10 % of procedures, animals were to be given pain relieving medication if the investigators decided this was necessary; however, structured assessments to detect pain were absent. Consequences of unalleviated pain and omission of pain assessment techniques are discussed, and some recommendations to improve anesthesia and analgesia are given. The findings of this review highlight the need for improvement, both to fulfil legal requirements and to improve animal welfare. To monitor compliance with animal welfare regulations, and ensure good veterinary and scientific practices, education and training needs to be intensified. Adherence to the items listed in the PREPARE and ARRIVE guidelines and the Gold Standard Publication checklist (GSPC) should become legally binding.

An inhalation anaesthesia approach for neonatal mice allowing streamlined stereotactic injection in the brain

“…Previous reports have been reliant on either hypothermic anaesthesia (Cheetham et al, 2015;Kim et al, 2014), or even a lack of anaesthesia (Li and Daly, 2002), raising major welfare issues (Herrmann and Flecknell, 2019).…”

“…Therefore, in accordance with 3Rs principles, this approach is now being restricted (Herrmann and Flecknell, 2019).…”

Refinement on the Way Towards Replacement: Are We Doing What We Can?

“…Tail-handled mice demonstrated a decreased responsiveness to reward and, potentially, a more depressive-like state compared to tunnel handled conspecifics (Clarkson et al, 2018). For surgical procedures, basic experimental refinements include: proper acclimatization of the animals to the room where anesthesia will be induced (Flecknell, 2018a); optimal anesthesia, peri-and postoperative analgesia; and adequate postoperative monitoring and care, including pain management (Flecknell, 2016;Herrmann and Flecknell, 2018a). The application of humane endpoints also prevents needless suffering.…”

“…In cases where research workers plan to use, for example, less than optimal anesthesia or analgesia protocols, or do not provide other standard veterinary practices, they need to scientifically justify this and demonstrate that the anticipated benefits of the experiments still outweigh the harms inflicted upon the animals (Herrmann and Flecknell, 2018b). Due to the multitude of available means, solutions can be found, in most cases, that help prevent needless animal suffering (Herrmann and Flecknell, 2018a).…”

Critically Evaluating Animal Research

“…To assess animal impacts further, it is helpful to know the frequency of analgesic (pain-killer) use, and the level of correlation between markedly invasive procedures and anesthetic or analgesic use (See Herrmann and Flecknell (2018) for a review of original animal research proposals). Painful or invasive procedures warrant anesthesia and/or analgesia.…”