COMPARISON OF LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY USE WITH ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION DURING ANESTHESIA OF WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS (GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA)

Abstract

The laryngeal mask airway is an alternative to endotracheal intubation that achieves control of the airway by creating a seal around the larynx with an inflatable cuff. This study compared use of the laryngeal mask airway with endotracheal intubation in anesthetized western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Eight adult gorillas were immobilized for routine and diagnostic purposes for a total of nine anesthetic events. During each anesthetic event, gorillas were either intubated (n = 4; group A) or fitted with a laryngeal mask airway (n= 5; group B). Time required to place each airway device, physiologic parameters, and arterial blood gas were measured and compared between the two groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups for time required to place airway device, heart rate, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, end-tidal carbon dioxide, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, or arterial pH between the two groups. Mean arterial partial pressure of oxygen was significantly greater in group B, 15 (group A: 94 +/- 44 mm Hg; group B: 408 +/- 36 mm Hg; P= 0.0025) and 45 (group A: 104 +/- 21 mm Hg; group B: 407 +/- 77 mm Hg; P = 0.0026) min after airway device placement. Mean respiratory rate was significantly greater in group A at multiple time points. Mean arterial pressure (group A: 129 +/- 16 mm Hg; group B: 60 +/- 8 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (group A: 115 +/- 21 mm Hg; group B: 36 +/- 10 mm Hg) were significantly greater in group A at the time of airway device placement. The laryngeal mask airway maintained oxygenation and ventilation effectively in all gorillas and is a useful alternative to endotracheal intubation in western lowland gorillas.

Comparison of endoscopic endotracheal intubation and the v‐gel supraglottic airway device for spontaneously ventilating New Zealand white rabbits undergoing ovariohysterectomy

“…The v‐gel placement appeared to be technically easier and was faster than intubation, with a difference of about 42 seconds. These results are comparable with other SGAD studies performed in people, gorillas, rabbits, pigs, dogs and cats 18 22–27. Previous studies have shown that SGADs were consistently easier to place, even with researchers experienced in endotracheal intubation 17 21 28.…”

Cardiorespiratory effects of isoflurane and medetomidine–tiletamine–zolazepam in 12 bonobos (Pan paniscus)

“…Prolonged recoveries after tiletamine-zolazepam, particularly at higher doses, have been reported, and after ketamine and detomidine in chimpanzees. 8,21 Despite widespread use of tiletamine-zolazepam in great apes, there is little data regarding the pharmacokinetics. Plasma halflives of tiletamine are reported to be between 1 and 1.5 hours for dogs, cats and monkeys, and between 1 and 8.4 hours for zolazepam in dogs, cats, rats, monkeys, pigs and polar bears.…”

“…Successful orotracheal intubation was facilitated by a brief period of isoflurane delivered in oxygen via a face mask. Other great ape anaesthetic protocols have used a volatile agent alone, 8 nitrous oxide and a volatile agent 18 or ketamine or tiletamine/zolazepam increments 19 to improve the plane of anaesthesia for intubation. No sudden arousals occurred during the procedures, but the addition of the volatile agent for maintenance facilitated unforeseen surgery and diagnostics during the health checks and ensured staff safety at all times.…”

“…From a personnel safety perspective, tiletamine–zolazepam combinations are considered superior anaesthetic protocols by some, given the predictable signs of a lightening plane of anaesthesia. While tiletamine–zolazepam has minimal cardiorespiratory effects, its use as a sole agent at higher doses is associated with prolonged recoveries 8 ; therefore, it is often combined with an alpha‐2 adrenoceptor agonist to allow reduced doses. Other groups favour medetomidine–ketamine combinations in the great apes, reporting less ataxia in recovery 9 …”

Use of Laryngeal Mask and Anesthetic Management in Hamadryas Baboons (Papio hamadryas) Undergoing Laparoscopic Salpingectomy—A Case Series

“…Supraglottic airway devices (SADs), such as the laryngeal mask airway (LMA), form a seal around the larynx, usually with an inflatable cuff, providing the management of the airways intermediate between the facemask and endotracheal intubation, in terms of anatomic position, invasiveness, and safety [ 19 ]. The use of LMA is reported in NHPs such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and a gibbon [ 20 , 21 ], but no mention exists for baboons.…”