1. Comparison of blind and endoscopic-guided orotracheal intubation on laryngeal and tracheal damage in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
- Author
-
Stephanie N. Reabel, Patricia Queiroz-Williams, Jeannette Cremer, Ingeborg M. Langohr, Anderson F. da Cunha, Chiara E. Hampton, Mariano Carossino, Chin-Chi Liu, and Javier G. Nevarez
- Subjects
Trachea ,General Veterinary ,Intubation, Intratracheal ,Animals ,Female ,Prospective Studies ,Rabbits ,Larynx ,Dexmedetomidine ,Laryngeal Masks - Abstract
To compare blind and endoscopic-guided techniques for orotracheal intubation in rabbits and the number of intubation attempts with laryngeal/tracheal damage.Prospective, randomized experimental study.A total of 24 healthy, intact female New Zealand White rabbits, weighing 2.2 ± 0.2 kg (mean ± standard deviation).Rabbits were randomly assigned to blind (group B) or endoscopic-guided (group E) orotracheal intubation with a 2.0 mm internal diameter uncuffed tube. Intramuscular (IM) alfaxalone (7 mg kgMedian (range) intubation attempts were 2 (1-8) and 1 (1-3) for groups B and E, respectively. More rabbits in group E (91.6%) required additional alfaxalone and dexmedetomidine than in group B (16.7%). Median (range) cumulative histopathology scores were 6 (3-10) and 6 (2-9) for groups B and E, respectively. Scores were highest in the cranial trachea, but there was no difference between groups and no correlation between laryngeal/tracheal damage and the number of intubation attempts.Both orotracheal intubation techniques were associated with laryngeal/tracheal damage. Although blind orotracheal intubation was associated with a higher number of attempts, the tissue damage was similar between groups.
- Published
- 2021