Simple Method Laryngoscope on Rat Intubation

Abstract

Background: In research using rats as experimental animalsthat involve surgery and anesthetic procedures, it is often necessary to administer inhalation anesthetics and patency of the airway. In this condition, intubation in rats is required. Endotracheal intubation in rats is quite difficult because the size and structure of the airway is very small and smooth and there is no specific instrument designed for intubation in rats. Methods: The experimental animal used in this study was adult male Wistar rats weighing 250-350grams. The intubation equipment used is a commercially available otoscopy which has a light source and a camera that can be displayed on a mobile phone screen. The end of the otoscopy is a modified blunt-tipped plastic blade. The endotracheal tube that is used was a intravenous catheter size 16 G which was directed using an introducer made of blunt-tipped wire. The rat is positioned on its back dorsally with its head upward. Results: In this study, 32 rats were intubated. Fourteen of the 32 intubated rats were alive, awakened from anesthesia and extubation. There were no complications such as stridor or voice disturbances after this intubation procedure. The other eighteen rats were not extubated alive because this was part of the treatment in another study. Of the 32 rats that were subjected to intubation, 2 rats failed to intubate due to spasm and bradycardia. Conclusion: Methods that were given in this paper can be alternatives for rat intubation.