Rat intubation and ventilation for surgical research

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Surgical Research
• Animal Models

Background:

• Effective cardiothoracic surgical research in rodents requires precise intubation and mechanical ventilation techniques.
• Existing methods for rat intubation are not always suitable for survival studies, impacting research reliability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a refined technique for rat intubation and a simplified mechanical ventilation setup for intrathoracic surgical procedures.
• To detail potential complications and provide justification for animal numbers in new rodent cardiothoracic studies.

Main Methods:

• Lewis rats (178-400 g) were anesthetized with Enflurane.
• Intubation was performed using a 16-G angiocatheter guided by transillumination.
• Mechanical ventilation was maintained at 85 bpm with a 2.5 mL tidal volume and 1.5-2% enflurane.

Main Results:

• The described technique facilitated adequate sedation for intrathoracic procedures.
• Identified complications included anesthetic overdose, intubation difficulty, pneumothorax, traumatic extubation, and ventilation disconnection.
• Comparison of anesthetic agents' effects on rat physiology was included.

Conclusions:

• Refined intubation and ventilation techniques are crucial for successful rodent cardiothoracic surgical research.
• Understanding and mitigating complications are essential for justifying animal numbers and adhering to the 3Rs (refinement, reduction, replacement).