Tracheal Intubation for Mechanical Ventilation: A Procedure to Insert Endotracheal Tube in Trachea of Rabbit Model

After sedating the animals, place an intravenous cannula into the marginal vein from the ear, and keep it closed until intubation is complete. Place the rabbit in the prone position and maintain its head in vertical extension. Anesthetize the trachea locally by spraying 10% lidocaine.

Slide a small diameter endotracheal tube into the rabbit's trachea until airflow can be heard in the tube. This will open the larynx and facilitate the insertion of the definitive tube. Next, insert a guide into the tube to fix the position of the tube into the trachea. Remove the small diameter tube and slide the definitive endotracheal tube on the guide. Remove the guide and inflate the balloon at the end of the endotracheal tube to seal and block the device into the trachea.

Continuously perfuse fentanyl to induce analgesia, 2 to 4 mg/kg of propofol to induce anesthesia, and 4 mL/kg/hour of Ringer's acetate to maintain iso-volumetric conditions. Immediately ventilate the animal with 3% sevoflurane in pure oxygen.