[Short-term transtracheal jet for reversible support of respiration in the rat]

A method is described for reversible controlled ventilation of rats by transtracheal catheter (20 or 22 G). A small rodent ventilator is used, rather then a jet ventilator, because the former enables the mixing of inhalation anesthetics with the carrying gas mixture. The method proved to be the most successful one for weaning from controlled ventilation after cardiac arrest and resuscitation of rats. In general, the method can be considered as an alterative to oral intubation and tracheotomy for controlled ventilation in rats.