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Osteoarthritis and cartilage open2022; 4(2); 100261; doi: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2022.100261

Reporting of anaesthesia and pain management in preclinical large animal models of articular cartilage repair – A long way to go.

Abstract: Animal models continue to be used to investigate cartilage repair strategies. Adequate anaesthesia and pain management are essential in order to guarantee acceptable animal welfare as well as reproducible experimental results. This systematic review evaluates reporting of anaesthesia and pain management in surgical large animal models (horse, pig, dog, goat and sheep) of (osteo)chondral repair. Manuscripts published between 2015 and 2020 were included after a comprehensive search strategy. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and qualitative review. Out of 223 eligible studies, 220 studies contained incomplete information on anaesthetic and pain management. Pre-, intra- and post-operative analgesia were not mentioned in 68%, 94%, and 64% of manuscripts respectively. A total of 176 studies reported that animals underwent general anaesthesia during surgery. Surprisingly, 30% of these articles did not provide any detail on anaesthetic management, while 37% reported using inhalant, hypnotic or sedative drugs only, without mention of analgesics. Pain monitoring was not reported in 87% of manuscripts. The vast majority of preclinical large animal studies on cartilage repair did not meet veterinary clinical standards for anaesthesia and analgesia, and failed to report according to the ARRIVE international guidelines. In light of serious welfare, ethical and translational validity concerns, improvement is urgently needed.
Publication Date: 2022-04-17 PubMed ID: 36475287PubMed Central: PMC9718186DOI: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2022.100261Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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Summary

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This article examines the reported use of anesthesia and pain management in large animal models during research on articular cartilage repair. In many cases, the studies didn’t provide complete information on how pain was managed during and after surgeries, reflecting a need for improvement in both welfare and reporting practices.

Objective of the Study

  • The study aims to analyze the use and reporting of anaesthesia and pain management in preclinical trials involving surgical large animal models (including horses, pigs, dogs, goats, and sheep) for cartilage repair.

Methods

  • The researcher carried out a systematic review of articles published from 2015 to 2020, obtained via a comprehensive search strategy.
  • The data acquired were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and qualitative review methods.

Findings

  • Of the 223 relevant studies identified, 220 provided incomplete information on anaesthetic and pain management procedures.
  • The information about pre-, intra-, and post-operative analgesia was absent in a significant number of manuscripts— 68%, 94%, and 64% respectively.
  • Although 176 studies mentioned the use of general anaesthesia during surgeries, in 30% of reports, precise details on anaesthetic management were missing.
  • In 37% of these studies, the use of inhalant, hypnotic, or sedative drugs was mentioned, but without any reference to analgesics, which are critical for pain management.
  • Pain monitoring procedures were not reported in 87% of the studied manuscripts.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that a significant proportion of research involving preclinical large animal models for cartilage repair does not meet veterinary clinical standards in terms of anaesthesia and analgesia. These results reveal a considerable discrepancy in the alignment with the ARRIVE (Animals in Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) international guidelines.
  • In order to address welfare, ethical, and validity concerns, the researchers suggest a need for substantial and urgent improvements in pain management and anesthesia protocols in this field of research.

Cite This Article

APA
Fugazzola MC, Wever KE, van de Lest C, de Grauw J, Salvatori D. (2022). Reporting of anaesthesia and pain management in preclinical large animal models of articular cartilage repair – A long way to go. Osteoarthr Cartil Open, 4(2), 100261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocarto.2022.100261

Publication

ISSN: 2665-9131
NlmUniqueID: 101767068
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 4
Issue: 2
Pages: 100261
PII: 100261

Researcher Affiliations

Fugazzola, Maria C
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Wever, Kimberley E
  • Radboud Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
van de Lest, Chris
  • Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
de Grauw, Janny
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Salvatori, Daniela
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no competing interest to declare.

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