Successful management of rabbit anesthesia through the use of nasotracheal intubation

Although nasotracheal intubation in the rabbit has been briefly described, scientific assessment of the procedure has not been reported. In this report we describe nasotracheal intubation performed in 38 male New Zealand White rabbits (3.0 to 5.5 kg) used for a vascular patch study. The rabbits were placed under general anesthesia twice, with 2 mo between the initial and final intubations. Rabbits were intubated by the oral or nasotracheal route and compared. Previous literature dismissed nasotracheal intubation, citing the possibility of introducing pathogens into the lungs and the necessity of high oxygen flow rates (presumably greater than 3 L/min). However, no clinical signs of respiratory disease were noted among the study animals, nor were high oxygen flow rates necessary. Several key points collectively facilitated a successful procedure. Total relaxation was essential, modification of the classic blind approach eased placement, a correct approach was necessary, and our development of a unique method of securing the tube improved tube management. The findings suggest that nasotracheal intubation can be used as an easy, less traumatic method of rabbit intubation when compared with orotracheal intubation.