Surgical Facilities
The LARIF has two operating theatres for surgery and general anaesthesia of large animals.
The LARIF has two operating theatres equipped for anaesthetising and conducting surgery on large animals.
Each theatre has an associated preparation room so that both may be used concurrently. Each is supported by separate laboratories allowing clinical investigation, sample collection and a limited degree of sample processing. Mobile imaging, i.e., fluoroscopy, radiography and ultrasonography, is available for use during surgery.
The theatres are typically used:
- For physiological instrumentation before intensive care, or related studies
- To evaluate biomedical devices for use in people
- To examine unique methods of vaccine delivery
- For implanting physiological sensors before pharmacological (and other) studies
- For the collection of tissues and organs, including oocytes and blastocysts
- To develop new surgical techniques or refine existing procedures
Anaesthesia and post-operative recovery are managed and, or supervised by the same team of specialised veterinary anesthetists responsible for the Critical Care Unit.
If required, surgical expertise or assistance can be recruited from suitably licensed members of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies' Farm Animal Hospital, and experienced surgical technical assistance is available from within the LARIF itself.
Suitably licensed members of visiting research groups are welcome to conduct their own procedures, providing the study complies with best-practice guidelines for animal research. The proposed activity must also be approved by Named Individuals on the University’s Establishment licence and the Estates Manager.