Postanaesthetic tracheal strictures in three rabbits

Abstract

SummaryWithin an 11-day period, three rabbits were anaesthetized for neutering. All were endotracheally intubated with 12 cm long, 2.5 mm (inner diameter [ID]) polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubes. All rabbits developed clinical signs of dyspnoea and upper respiratory tract obstruction, 17-21 days later. One rabbit was found dead; the other two were treated, but one was euthanized and one died. At necropsy examination, focal chronic inflammation and significant localized narrowing of the tracheal lumen was found in all cases. The affected sites corresponded to the position of the bevel of the endotracheal tube (ETT) during anaesthesia. Histopathology could not differentiate between a traumatic or chemical cause for the narrowing. Possible causes include trauma by the bevel of the ETT when turning the rabbit or preparing the surgical site or a chemical burn from incorrect disinfection or inadequate rinsing of the tubes. Iatrogenic tracheitis should be considered as a cause of dyspnoea, when clinical signs arise 2-3 weeks after anaesthesia.

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

“…Similar findings have been reported in horses and our findings are consistent with those of Phaneuf et al, where histologic changes were reported after a single intubation event (the number of attempts was not reported) using both cuffed and uncuffed endotracheal tubes (7, 23). Since animals were euthanized at the end of our study, the consequences of the histologic changes are unknown; however, morbidity and mortality have been reported following apparently uneventful blind orotracheal intubations (7, 24). One rabbit in the SGAD group had a higher histological score, of 3.67, than the rest of the group.…”

The investigation of airway management capacity of v-gel and cobra-PLA in anaesthetised rabbits

“…However this technique usually becomes a challenge in rabbits due to physiology and anatomy of the larynx and upper airways 6 . On the other hand sublaryngeal tracheal injuries, ulcerations and post anaesthetic tracheal strictures are reported in rabbits when using ET 7,8 .…”

An observational clinical study in cats and rabbits of an anatomically designed supraglottic airway device for use in companion animal veterinary anaesthesia

“…Iatrogenic tracheitis has been found to be a cause of late postoperative death either as a result of chemical damage from inadequate rinsing after disinfection, or direct physical trauma from the endotracheal tube bevel (Grint and others 2006). Respiratory obstruction has been reported as a cause of death in rabbits (Brodbelt and others 2007); therefore, the maintenance of a patent airway is of great importance.…”