Video laryngoscopic oral intubation in rats: a simple and effective method

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Surgical Techniques
• Animal Research

Background:

• Endotracheal intubation is critical for controlled ventilation in rat in vivo experiments.
• Current intubation methods in rodents are technically challenging and can be invasive.
• Existing video laryngoscopy techniques for rodents are complex and costly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel, noninvasive oral video laryngoscopy method for rat endotracheal intubation.
• To present an inexpensive and accessible alternative to surgical tracheostomy for rodent airway management.
• To detail a technique that enhances laryngeal visualization for improved intubation success.

Main Methods:

• Repurposing a commercial ear wax removal device for enhanced laryngeal visualization.
• Utilizing video laryngoscopy for direct visualization of the rat vocal cords.
• Employing a 14G catheter as an endotracheal tube with PE50 tubing as a stylet (Seldinger technique).

Main Results:

• The novel method successfully facilitated noninvasive endotracheal intubation in rats.
• The procedure was performed over 60 times with 100% first-attempt success.
• No adverse events were observed during or after the intubation procedure.

Conclusions:

• The described video laryngoscopy technique offers a simple, safe, and effective approach to rat endotracheal intubation.
• Repurposed, inexpensive equipment makes this method highly accessible for research laboratories.
• This noninvasive technique avoids the need for surgical tracheostomy, reducing complications in rodent research.