title: Anesthesia of six-week-old New Zealand White rabbits for thoracotomy.
abstract: Many methods of administering surgical anesthesia to rabbits have been described. We are studying the effects of anterior thoracic spinal procedures on the growth of young rabbit spines. We introduce a method for intubation using direct laryngoscopy without the need for specially manufactured or costly equipment and for administration of anesthesia applicable to six-week-old New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Induction of anesthesia was initiated with 5% isoflurane in a sealed plastic anesthesia box. No premedication was given. We performed direct laryngoscopy by using an otoscope. Under direct visualization, a 5-French polypropylene catheter was passed through the speculum of the otoscope and advanced through the vocal cords. The endotracheal tube without the adapter then was advanced over this guide. A vigorous cough reflex was noted as the tube passed through the vocal cords. We have found this cough reflex to be a very reliable indicator of correct placement. Throughout the surgical procedure, anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane delivered from a standard small-animal anesthetic machine using pediatric breathing hoses, y-piece, and ventilator. Recovery after surgery was rapid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wishner
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D005260:Female; D007440:Intubation; D007530:Isoflurane; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013908:Thoracotomy
chemical_list: D007530:Isoflurane