Ep. 1: Preparation for the Academy of Surgical Research's Certification Exams

September 11, 2023

In the kickoff episode of the 2023 Academy of Surgical Research Series, Lisa Johnson, BA, SRS, LATg, a veterinary surgeon with Charles River Laboratories and over thirty years of experience in surgical research spanning contract research labs and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals/Pfizer, walks attendees through the subjects covered on each of the Academy of Surgical Research's three certification exams. She reviews the core topics tested on each exam, works through sample questions for each subject, and offers test-taking tips along with guidance on what to expect on exam day. Sponsored by Kent Scientific Corporation.

Key Highlights

• Lisa Johnson outlines the subjects and topics covered on each of the three certification exams offered by the Academy of Surgical Research, giving attendees a roadmap for study.
• The webinar includes sample questions for each exam subject, giving candidates a preview of the format and difficulty they can expect.
• Johnson shares test-taking tips and describes what to anticipate on the day of the exam, drawing on her more than thirty years of experience in surgical research.

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Ep. 2: The Use of Vascular Access Buttons in Rabbits for PK/TK Studies

October 18, 2023

Jon Ehrmann, BS, SRS, SRA, LATg, Senior Science and Technology Manager for the Translational Animal Pharmacology Group in Veterinary Sciences at Bristol Myers Squibb, presents the use of dual channel, arterial and venous, vascular access buttons (VABs) as a refinement to chronic vascular access models in rabbits used for pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic studies. He explains that repetitive venipuncture of the auricular vessels commonly causes trauma and hematomas that compromise sampling as a study progresses, and describes how VABs, combined with a magnetic tethering device, achieve patency rates equal to or better than implanted vascular access ports while enabling hands-off blood collection and intravenous administration. Ehrmann also covers anesthetic and analgesic protocols for the implantation procedure, use of a rigid scope for tracheal intubation in rabbits, and aseptic technique for long-term VAB maintenance.

Key Highlights

• Repetitive venipuncture of the auricular vessels in rabbits commonly causes hematomas and vascular trauma, leading to missed time points or insufficient blood samples as PK/TK studies progress.
• Jon Ehrmann describes the implantation of dual channel, arterial and venous, vascular access buttons in rabbits as a refinement over exteriorized catheters and implanted vascular access ports, with rabbits tolerating the buttons well and minimal complications.
• When paired with a magnetic tethering device, VABs achieve patency rates equal to or better than vascular access ports while enabling hands-off blood collection and intravenous administration during pharmacokinetic studies.

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Ep. 3: Successful Modification of a Rodent Surgical Procedure and Device for Vascular Access in Minipigs (Vascular Access Button)

November 15, 2023

Adrian Zeltner, SRT, owner of AZE Consulting, president elect of the European Academy of Laboratory Animal Surgery, and formerly senior surgeon at Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs in Denmark for 18 years, describes adapting the Rat Vascular Access Button for use in Göttingen Minipigs to overcome the limited superficial vessel access and stress of repeated restraint and venipuncture in this species. He explains that the modified port allows up to four catheters to connect through a single access point, enabling both sampling and dosing via different catheters, and that iterative refinement following preliminary studies has led to more than 200 Göttingen Minipigs being successfully implanted with the device.

Key Highlights

• Superficial vessels are scarce in Göttingen Minipigs, making traditional blood sampling and infusion methods challenging and repeated restraint and venipuncture stressful enough to affect blood parameters.
• Adrian Zeltner adapted the Rat Vascular Access Button for use in Göttingen Minipigs, creating a port that can connect up to four catheters for sampling and dosing through a single implantation site.
• Following preliminary studies and continuous refinement of the implantation procedure, more than 200 Göttingen Minipigs have been successfully implanted with Vascular Access Buttons for pharmacokinetic studies.

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Ep. 4: Indwelling Portal Vascular Access Ports: Application, Advantages, and Management

December 6, 2023

Melanie Graham, MPH, PhD, Professor of Surgery and Goodale Chair in Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Minnesota and Director of the Preclinical Research Center, closes out the series with a look at totally implanted vascular access ports (VAPs) for animals requiring repeated, prolonged vascular access for blood sampling or administration of fluids, blood products, medication, or other therapies. She explains that VAPs, with no externalized components, minimize discomfort and physiologic changes that could confound biologic data while remaining compatible with species-typical behavior, social group activities, and enrichment programs including play and swim, and covers indications and advantages of the portal approach, surgical technique, and postoperative care and management.

Key Highlights

• Melanie Graham describes totally implanted vascular access ports as enabling reliable long-term access for frequent sample collection and intravenous therapies while minimizing discomfort and confounding physiologic changes.
• Because VAPs have no externalized components, animals can maintain species-typical behavior and participate in social group activities and enrichment programs such as play and swim.
• VAPs demonstrate excellent long-term durability with high patency and low complication rates, making them a safe and dependable vascular access approach for extended experimental or clinical use.

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