Experimental Surgery

Our Experimental Surgery Unit offers 4 fully equipped surgery suites, One suite is dedicated for multi-species sterile surgery, one suite may be used for sterile or non-sterile surgical procedures. One suite is dedicated as an imaging room and contains Cardiac Fluoroscopy and dental x-ray equipment and the fourth suite is a dedicated species sterile surgery. We have a wide variety of instruments available for use, and do steam, gas and chemical sterilizations. 

Access to the surgical facility is restricted. You must have an IACUC approved animal protocol with a surgical component. Additional approval forms are available from the DLAR office which must be approved by our veterinarians prior to access being granted.

The surgical suites may book as much as 3 months in advance so the earlier you reserve your dates in the better. We prefer to do survival surgery toward the beginning of the week.

To schedule time in our surgical area please contact our Surgery Coordinator, Ameila Hall. If there are specific questions that you need an answer to immediately, please contact one of the following individuals:
Amelia Hall or Wade Washington.

The fee schedule for the Experimental Surgery use can be found in the Per Diems and Other Service Fees section. Technical assistance is available on a fee for services basis if needed.

Aseptic Rodent Surgery Workshop

This workshop will demonstrate the appropriate way to prep your surgical area and patient in an aseptic manner. Handouts will be offered for future reference as well. 

Please contact Dr. Cheryl Haughton to sign up for the workshop or if you need any further information.

The Charles River Laboratories hosts a video presentation on the JoVE website entitled "Principals of Rodent Surgery for the new Surgeon".

To Request the Use of a Rodent Anesthesia Machine

To Request the Use of a Rodent Anesthesia Machine

For the Central Animal Facility and Combs: Contact Glenn Florence

For BBSRB, Todd BioPharm, Heathy Kentucky Research Building (HKRB),and MDSB: Contact Kristin Fox

If this is the first time that you have requested to use an anesthetic machine, you will need to schedule for the Use of Rodent Anesthesia Machine Workshop.  Once completed you will be sent “Anesthetic Machine Use Requisition” Template. Please fill the yellow highlighted sections and send back to Glenn and Kristin.

To reserve a procedure room, you will need to visit the Event Management System (EMS) for the University of Kentucky at https://meetatbigblue.uky.edu.  The procedure room and anesthetic machines must be reserved separately.

After the initial set-up, email Glenn Florence or Kristin Fox with:

• Date, Time, & Room Needed
• Account and Protocol Number
• Name of the PI
• Any special equipment needed (four-station machine, extra boxes or nose cone etc)

 Important Notes

• It is the user's responsibility to reserve a procedure room.
• Please give as much notice as possible. At a minimum, 24 hours' notice is required. 
• Do not use alcohol on the induction chambers. This causes them to crack and become unusable. 

If you have any questions or problems, please contact either DLAR Research Analyst listed above. If unable to contact either, please contact Wade Washington or Amelia Hall.