Research Article Open Access

Use of the Nasal Speculum for Rat Endotracheal Intubation

Khaled R. Alzaben, Sami A. Abu-Halaweh, Abdel Karim S. Aloweidi, Zuhair A. Bani Ismail, Iyad A. Al-Ammouri, Mohamed K. Al-Esa, Samir K. Jabaiti, Moaath M. Alsmady and Mahmoud Abu-Abeeleh

Abstract

One hundred and fifty athymic nude (rnu/rnu) rats were intubated by direct visualizion of the larynx using a nasal speculum with an attached otoscope as a light source. A blunt, plastic covered stylet was introduced between the vocal cords as guide for a 16-gauge intravenous catheter which was used as an endotracheal tube. Successful intubation was performed in 148 out of 150 animals (98.7%). Complications were encountered in 2 animals only (1.3%). Complications reported were airway injury and bleeding (one animal) and post-extubation stridor (one animal). Our rodent intubation technique is simple, cheap and easy to learn and uses readily available equipment. In addition, it has a high success rate, with very few complications. All this make it a favorable intubation technique that can be used in all animal laboratories.

American Journal of Applied Sciences
Volume 6 No. 3, 2009, 507-511

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2009.507.511

Submitted On: 8 September 2008 Published On: 31 March 2009

How to Cite: Alzaben, K. R., Abu-Halaweh, S. A., Aloweidi, A. K. S., Ismail, Z. A. B., Al-Ammouri, I. A., Al-Esa, M. K., Jabaiti, S. K., Alsmady, M. M. & Abu-Abeeleh, M. (2009). Use of the Nasal Speculum for Rat Endotracheal Intubation. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 6(3), 507-511. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2009.507.511

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Keywords

  • Rats
  • tracheal intubation
  • general anesthesia
  • complications