Induce and monitor anaesthesia for animals in a Home Office designated establishment

This standard covers inducing and monitoring anaesthesia in animals in a Home Office designated establishment.

When working with research animals recognise humanity’s obligation to them and your responsibility for ensuring their proper care and treatment at all times.

You will need to understand why and when anaesthesia might be used, the importance of a balanced anaesthetic regime and how this can be achieved.

Monitoring is a vital part of the technician’s role and can include direct observations, measurements of vital signs and information from monitoring equipment.

This standard is for licensed animal technicians in Home Office designated establishments.

It is essential that you work strictly within the limits of both your personal licence and the relevant project licence.

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1. confirm that your work is carried out in accordance with the approved codes of practice and the organisation’s procedures and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and organisation’s policies
3. assess the risks to health and safety before starting and throughout the activity
4. comply with legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies relating to the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment
5. use safe practices and the correct clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the activity
6. maintain the required levels of hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
7. implement infection-control measures and use aseptic techniques in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
8. maintain communication with colleagues and all those involved in, or affected by, your work
9. confirm the requirements for anaesthetising the animal and the intended outcome, including recovery or non-recovery
10. induce and administer anaesthesia at the correct stages of the procedure
11. provide anaesthetic equipment, materials and gases at the right time
12. monitor that the correct level of anaesthesia is maintained
13. obtain monitoring information throughout the procedure and take the appropriate action when problems arise
14. monitor and record details of the animal carefully and bring any indications of problems to the attention of the appropriate person
15. alter anaesthesia procedures according to any change in the condition of the animal
16. reduce and stop anaesthetic procedures at the correct stage of the surgical procedure
17. administer analgesia where required
18. disconnect the animal carefully from anaesthetic equipment, materials and gasses
19. keep accurate and up-to-date records as required by the relevant legislation and the organisation
20. conduct all activities within the provisions and standard conditions of your personal licence and the project licence

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1. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies
2. your responsibilities for the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment under the relevant animal welfare legislation and Home Office codes of practice
3. the reasons for using animals in scientific research and humanity’s responsibilities to them
4. the importance and correct use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when carrying out activities in a Home Office designated establishment
5. the importance of maintaining the appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity and the procedures for this
6. the appropriate infection-control measures and aseptic techniques for different types of anaesthetic procedures
7. why it is important to confirm that the correct anaesthetic procedures are being applied for the procedure being undertaken and the intended outcome of the animal
8. balanced anaesthesia and how this is best achieved
9. the correct stages for the administration of anaesthesia
10. the type of anaesthetic equipment, materials and gases required at the different stages of a procedure
11. the drugs commonly used for pre-medication and the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in relevant laboratory species
12. the types of anaesthetic agents used for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia and when each might be used
13. how to calculate the correct dosage for the different procedures and outcomes
14. the signs indicating the correct level of anaesthesia in the animal
15. why it is important to carry out monitoring, and the type of monitoring information required
16. how to monitor animals during the anaesthesia and the indications of problems, including observations, measuring vital signs and information from monitoring equipment
17. how to interpret the monitoring data and change anaesthesia procedures accordingly
18. the problems that may occur during anaesthesia, how to avoid these or manage them if they occur
19. why it is important that anaesthesia is reduced and stopped at the correct stages of the procedure and what these stages are
20. how the choice of anaesthetic agent and the duration and depth of anaesthesia will determine the rate of recovery
21. when to administer analgesia and how to determine dosages
22. the correct procedures for disconnecting animals from anaesthetic equipment, materials and gases
23. how to recover animals from anaesthesia in an emergency
24. the information that needs to be recorded and the organisation’s procedures for this
25. the provisions and standard conditions of your personal licence and the provisions of the project licence

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3

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2030

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Current

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Original

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Lantra

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LANAT23

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Animal Facility Manager, Licensed Animal Technologist, Team Leader, Senior Animal Technologist

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6129

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animal; research; induce; anaesthesia; gases

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