We would like to preface our statement on this important topic by emphasizing that eliminating the suffering of the animals and minimizing their discomfort is an absolute priority of our training programme. The animals are handled by trained and properly qualified staff, always paying the highest attention to the animals' well-being. The overall concept and arrangement of the Summer School is adapted to suit this purpose, which applies also to the housing of the animals and veterinary supervision. All surgical procedures are performed under professionally administered general anaesthesia with adequate analgesia (pain control).
Concerning legislation, the Act of the Czech National Council on Protection of Animals against Cruelty No. 246/1992 Coll. does not consider interventions or activities carried out in accordance with an approved experimental project as cruelty. The Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen has a valid AUTHORIZATION TO USE EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS from the Ministry of Agriculture. The experimental project "Training of surgical techniques on domestic pig" is approved by the Decision of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The head of the experimental project (the person responsible for the management and control of the project) is prof. MUDr. Václav Liška Ph.D. All instructors hold a valid Certificate of Professional Competence to Conduct Experiments on Experimental Animals, Care for Experimental Animals and Euthanize Experimental Animals according to Section 15d(4) of Act No. 246/1992 Coll., on the Protection of Animals against Cruelty, as amended.
In order to be able to organize surgical courses on an international level, we also hold the voluntary AAALAC International accreditation approving humane treatment of animals in science.
The aim of the project is to train surgical techniques in general, abdominal, thoracic surgery, neurosurgery and urology, so that the results of the training are transferable to human medicine. The experimental procedures are designed to prepare our students and physicians to perform difficult surgical procedures in human medicine. We are aware that it is not responsible for surgical students to perform some procedures for the first time on human patients; without prior training on a large animal with similar anatomical structure and physiological function, which the domestic pig undoubtedly is. Animal surgery is the only way to practically experience and practice surgical techniques close to human medicine. No model situation, including software simulators, can truly replace training on a macro-organism with preserved basic vital functions that we have to accept during such procedures. This is not only our opinion, as according to the available information (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, ECVAM), training of surgical techniques on a living animal cannot be replaced by alternative methods.
We perform these procedures with the utmost awareness of preventing irreparable failures of our younger colleagues when performing the rehearsed procedures in their clinical practice in human medicine. Before operating on a living animal SSES students first undergo essential theoretical lessons (e.g. anaesthesia), followed by practice of surgical techniques on ex-vivo tissues (e.g., skin sutures on pig paws purchased from a regular butcher shop). In addition, students are also introduced to the principles of the "3Rs" (i.e. Refinement, Reduction and Replacement), representing a modern and humane approach to animal experimentation. These principles are important for minimising animal suffering and ensuring scientifically or pedagogically valuable results.
Anesthesia and analgesia of experimental animals is provided by an experienced instructor. Several procedures are performed on one animal so that the experimental animal is used to the maximum. After the operation is completed, the animal is gently euthanized by an overdose of anesthetic under deep anesthesia. Subsequently, various organs and tissues are harvested for the theoretical institutes and research facilities of the Faculty to be used for teaching and research.
