Abstract
Objective
To compare between blind and smartphone-based endoscope-assisted techniques for endotracheal
intubation in rabbits.
Study design
Prospective clinical study.
Animals
A total of 34 rabbits.
Methods
Rabbits were assigned to four groups: intubation by a veterinary anesthesiologist
(VA) or an exotic pet medicine specialist (EPS) using blind or endoscope-assisted
techniques. Propofol dose, number of attempts until successful intubation, total time
for intubation, duration of the successful attempt and occurrence of lingual cyanosis/laryngeal
lesions were recorded. Data were analyzed by t test, Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney U test or chi-square test. Pearson correlation for body weight was performed.
Results
The success rate of blind intubation was 88.9% and 77.8% for VA and EPS, respectively.
Propofol dose, total and median number of attempts, total time for intubation and
duration of the successful attempt were 3.1 (0–6.2) mg kg–1, 19, 2 (1–5), 79 ± 65 and 30 ± 20 seconds for VA and 1.5 (0–4.5) mg kg–1, 24, 3 (1–5), 136 ± 92 and 38 ± 16 seconds for EPS. The success rate of endoscope-assisted
intubation was 87.5% for both operators. Propofol dose, total and median number of
attempts, total time for intubation and duration of the successful attempt were 2.5
(1.3–7.4) mg kg–1, 22, 3 (1–5), 170 (65–368) and 46 (22–150) seconds for VA and 3.2 (0–6) mg kg–1, 11, 1 (1–4), 56 (27–432) and 55 (26–79) seconds for EPS. VA performed blind intubation
more quickly, propofol dose was lower and cyanosis was less frequent than in the endoscope-assisted
group.
Conclusions and clinical relevance
Both techniques were reliable for rabbit endotracheal intubation. Best results were
achieved when the operator was experienced in the technique. The smartphone-based
endoscope is a useful aid for rabbit intubation.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Veterinary Anaesthesia and AnalgesiaAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Specialty and exotic pet ownership.in: AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook (2017–2018 edn). AVMA, USA2018: 78-85
- A simple method of oral endotracheal intubation in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).Lab Anim Sci. 1980; 30: 871-873
- How to improve anesthesia and analgesia in small mammals.Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2016; 19: 361-377
- The use of propofol and sevoflurane for surgical anaesthesia in New Zealand White rabbits.Lab Anim. 2010; 44: 113-117
- Anatomical and histological study of the tongue of wild adult male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domestica) in AL-Najaf province.Kufa J Vet Sci. 2016; 7: 79-94
- Comparison between facemask and laryngeal mask airway in rabbits during isoflurane anesthesia.Vet Anaesth Analg. 2005; 32: 280-288
- Propofol in veterinary medicine.J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1994; 204: 1888-1890
- The risk of death: the confidential enquiry into perioperative small animal fatalities.Vet Anaesth Analg. 2008; 35: 365-373
- Do smartphone use and perceptions among medical students and practicing physicians.J Mob Technol Med. 2016; 5: 27-32
- Modified retrograde orotracheal intubation technique for airway access in rabbits.Eur Surg Res. 1992; 24: 129-132
- Use of a laryngeal mask for airway maintenance during inhalation anaesthesia in rabbits.Vet Anaesth Analg. 2000; 27: 115-116
- Difficult orotracheal intubation in a rabbit resulting from the presence of faecal pellets in the oropharynx.Vet Rec Case Rep. 2016; 4e000265
- Comparison of a supraglottic airway device (v-gel) with blind orotracheal intubation in rabbits.Front Vet Sci. 2017; 4e00049
- Technique of blind tracheal intubation in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi) supported by previous maneuvre of esophageal cannulization.Acta Cir Bras. 2011; 26: 352-356
- A simple technique for endotracheal intubation in rabbits.Lab Anim. 1987; 21: 265-266
- Rabbits.in: Carpenter J. Marion C. Exotic Animal Formulary. 5th edn. Saunders Elsevier, USA2017: 708-760
- Smartphone otoscope: an alternative technique for intubation in rabbits.Vet Anaesth Analg. 2020; 47: 281-284
- Postanaesthetic tracheal strictures in three rabbits.Lab Anim. 2006; 40: 301-308
- Small mammal endoscopy.in: Quesenberry K. Carpenter J. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents Clinical Medicine and Surgery. 2nd edn. Saunders, USA2004: 392-394
- Smartphone-based device in exotic pet medicine.Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2019; 22: 349-366
- Endoscopic intubation of exotic companion mammals.Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2010; 13: 273-289
- Use of the laryngeal mask airway in rabbits: placement and efficacy.Lab Anim. 2007; 36: 29-34
- A simplified procedure for endotracheal intubation in rabbits.Lab Anim. 1994; 28: 176-177
- Evaluation of a smartphone camera system to enable visualization and image transmission to aid tracheal intubation with the Airtraq laryngoscope.J Anesth. 2016; 30: 514-517
- Capnography-guided endotracheal intubation as an alternative to existing intubation methods in rabbits.J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019; 58: 240-245
- Dimensions of rabbit subglottis and trachea.Lab Anim. 2001; 35: 253-256
- Animal facility videoendoscopic intubation station: tips and tricks from mice to rabbits.Lab Anim. 2017; 51: 204-207
- Teaching a new method of rabbit intubation.J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2007; 46: 32-36
- A comparison of the Airtraq, McGrath, and Macintosh laryngoscopes for difficult paediatric intubation: a manikin study.PLoS One. 2017; 12e0171889
- Tracheal injury after endotracheal intubation and anesthesia in rabbits.J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2006; 45: 67-72
- The ASA physical status classification: what is the evidence for recommending its use in veterinary anesthesia? - A systematic review.Front Vet Sci. 2018; 5: 204
- Endotracheal tubes versus laryngeal mask airways in rabbit inhalation anesthesia: ease of use and waste gas emissions.J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2004; 43: 22-25
- A miniature lighted stylet for fast oral endotracheal intubation in rabbits.Vet J. 2013; 195: 254-256
- Endotracheal intubation of rabbits using a polypropylene guide catheter.J Vis Exp. 2017; 129: 563-569
- A method of endoscopic endotracheal intubation in rabbits.Lab Anim. 2001; 35: 249-252
- The investigation of airway management capacity of v-gel and cobra-PLA in anaesthetised rabbits.Acta Circ Bras. 2015; 30: 80-86
- Airway management in the rabbit.J Exot Pet Med. 2017; 26: 29-35
- Experimental evaluation of four airway devices in anaesthetized New Zealand White rabbits.Vet Anaesth Analg. 2017; 44: 529-537
- Rapid oral endotracheal intubation with a fibre-optic scope in rabbits: a simple and reliable technique.Lab Anim. 2000; 34: 199-201
- Airway management with the laryngeal tube in rabbits.Lab Anim. 2007; 36: 33-35
Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 04, 2020
Accepted:
July 28,
2020
Received:
April 7,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
