A simple technique for endotracheal intubation in rabbits

Abstract

265Summary A technique for endotracheal intubation in rabbits, which eliminates the need for tracheostomies, special devices, laryngoscopes and guide wires, is described. Inhalation anaesthesia with controlled ventilation for major surgical procedures in rabbits is easier to perform than previous reports in the literature suggest. Keywords: Intubation, endotracheal; Anaesthesia; RabbitsThe use of rabbits for major experimental surgical procedures is not widespread, partly because of difficulties in establishing inhalation anaesthesia with controlled ventilation. The small glottis and the larynx hidden behind the tongue are major obstacles for rapid intubation (Murdock, 1969). Special techniques and devices are often used for intubation of rabbits; some workers have even resorted to tracheotomy.In studies on hepatic encephalopathy we produced fulminant hepatic failure in the rabbit by a two-stage surgical devascularization procedure in which we developed a simple technique for endotracheal intubation in rabbits. Materials and methodsWe used female New Zealand White rabbits weighing 2·3-2·8 kg. After atropine at 0·05 mg/kg intramuscularly, anaesthesia was induced with Hypnorm (10 mg/ml fluanisone and 0·2 mg/ml fentanyl base) at 0·5 mVkg intramuscularly.The rabbit was placed in the prone position

Comparison of a Supraglottic Airway Device (v-gel®) with Blind Orotracheal Intubation in Rabbits

“…Orotracheal intubations were performed using a blind technique (19). Endotracheal tube size (2–3.5 mm ID, Sheridan/CF, Teleflex Medical Canada Inc., Markham, ON, Canada) was selected based on investigator experience.…”

A New Technique for Oral Endotracheal Airway Access in Rabbits under Fluoroscopic Control: An Easy Way for Drug Administration in Chronic Experiments

“…The same problem was overcome by Macrae and Guerreiro [6] who inserted a tube which contained a catheter extending beyond the opening and into the trachea. Blind intubation without the use of a laryngoscope was performed by Alexander and Clark [1] and by Fick and Schalm [4]. Their results indicate that the narrowness of the oropharynx lowers the chances of misplacing the tube into the esophagus.…”

Peri-anaesthetic mortality and nonfatal gastrointestinal complications in pet rabbits: a retrospective study on 210 cases

“…The peculiar anatomy of the oropharynx, together with the long incisors and the well-developed masticatory muscles, limits the visibility of the rima glottidis, thus increasing the technical difficulty of orotracheal intubation (Johnson-Delaney & Orosz SE 2011). Additionally, rabbits are prone to develop laryngeal spasm as a sequel of mechanical stimulation; as a result, attempting to intubate the trachea of an inadequately anaesthetized rabbit is likely to cause laryngeal damage (Fick & Schalm 1987).…”