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Abstract

Medicine

Endotracheal Intubation via Tracheotomy and Subsequent Thoracotomy in Rats for Non-Survival Applications

Published: March 15th, 2024

DOI:

10.3791/66684

1Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, 2Department of Urology and Urosurgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty of the University of Heidelberg, 3Intelligent Systems and Robotics in Urology (ISRU), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, 4DKFZ Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, 5Department of Urology, University Hospital Leipzig

Abstract

Endotracheal intubation and subsequent ventilation are often basic requirements for translational research in rat models for various interventions that require controlled or high ventilation pressures or access to the thoracic cavity and organs. Conventional endoorotracheal intubation using the anatomically existing route through the mouth is well suited for survival experiments. However, this procedure poses some challenges, including generally higher levels of the required experience and technical skill, more advanced equipment, and greater time effort with relevant intubation failure rates and complications such as tracheal perforation, temporary systemic hypooxygenation, and relevant aerial leakage.

This manuscript, therefore, presents a detailed step-by-step protocol for endotracheal intubation through tracheotomy in non-survival rat models when guaranteed intubation success, constant oxygenation levels, high ventilation pressures, or open thoracotomy are required.

The protocol emphasizes the importance of meticulous surgical technique to ensure consistent and reliable outcomes, especially for researchers who are inexperienced or lack routine in the technique of endoorotracheal intubation via direct laryngoscopy. This procedure is, therefore, expected to minimize animal suffering and unnecessary animal losses.

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Keywords Endotracheal Intubation

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