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The goal in conducting aseptic surgery is to maintain the sterility of the incision site and the underlying tissues by avoiding the introduction of pathogenic organisms. Such problems as rats with infected catheter tracts, mice with septic emboli in the spleen and liver or rodents that die unexpectedly a few days after surgery are all examples of complications of non-sterile surgery.

It is evident that rodents are susceptible to infection and that sterile or aseptic techniques must be used in survival surgical procedures. The use of aseptic techniques will result in use of fewer animals, a more humane procedure and improved reproducibility of scientific results.