Blind digital orotracheal intubation in two dogs with difficult glottis visualization

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Anesthesiology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Difficult airway management in small animals poses significant challenges.
• Conventional intubation methods may fail when airway structures are obscured by masses or anatomical abnormalities.

Observation:

• Two canine patients presented with glottic obstruction post-anesthesia, preventing visualization for intubation.
• Standard methods including face mask oxygenation and laryngoscopy were ineffective, leading to worsening hypoxemia.

Findings:

• A blind digital intubation technique was successfully employed in both cases.
• The operator used digital palpation to guide the endotracheal tube into the trachea, bypassing the need for direct visualization.

Implications:

• Digitally facilitated intubation offers a viable solution for emergent canine airway management when visualization is compromised.
• This technique, adapted from human and large animal medicine, warrants further study and consideration in small animal practice.