Hanh Do
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Alvaro Rojas-Peña
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Department of Surgery-Transplantation / Medicine
Program: CG
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Authors: Hanh Do, Daniela Pelaez Palacio, Hamsa Ezzi, Brianna Spencer, Spencer Willhelm, Robert H. Bartlett, Alvaro Rojas-Peña
Abstract
Despite the various amounts of research conducted using laboratory animals, there has been differences in public opinion regarding the many ethical issues surrounding the topic of research animals and pain assessment. This study aims to objectively analyze the use of a proposed pain scale in the Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Lab in correlation with animal pain and distress during chronic care. This prospective observational study observed the pain levels of eleven neonatal pigs in the Chronic Care room of the ECLS Lab at the University of Michigan for 24 hours from multiple TPN experiments from 2022. Seven piglets were cannulated for application of Total Parenteral Nutrition, while four piglets were continuously fed milk orally. Hourly data entry on an Excel data sheet documented the vitals and observations of any natural and unnatural behaviors in addition to any signs of possible discomfort or pain for each piglet. Over the course of 24 hours, analysis displayed assumptions that none of the piglets showed pain in any way, with a pain score of 0 every hour, despite differing combinations of various behaviors, varying in movement, vocalization, and alertness in addition to slight fluctuations in vitals. Regardless of the different combinations in attributes that the animals have shown, an accurate pain indicator is difficult to obtain, leading to the conclusion that there is no good measurement of pain in the animal through surface-level direct observation. Effects of anesthesia and post-surgery traits like surgical wound assessment should likely be included in the pain score. As of now, these results do not show enough significance to be applicable to all animals used in research. Further investigation is necessary in order to broaden the understanding of laboratory animals and their sensory experiences with pain.
