title: Endotracheal intubation in mice via direct laryngoscopy using an otoscope.
abstract: Mice, both wildtype and transgenic, are the principal mammalian model in biomedical research currently. Intubation and mechanical ventilation are necessary for whole animal experiments that require surgery under deep anesthesia or measurements of lung function. Tracheostomy has been the standard for intubating the airway in these mice to allow mechanical ventilation. Orotracheal intubation has been reported but has not been successfully used in many studies because of the substantial technical difficulty or a requirement for highly specialized and expensive equipment. Here we report a technique of direct laryngoscopy using an otoscope fitted with a 2.0 mm speculum and using a 20 G intravenous catheter as an endotracheal tube. We have used this technique extensively and reliably to intubate and conduct accurate assessments of lung function in mice. This technique has proven safe, with essentially no animal loss in experienced hands. Moreover, this technique can be used for repeated studies of mice in chronic models.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Research Services, VA San Diego Healthcare System; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Joanna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dumouchel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Jinghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magat
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balitzer
authors.affiliation: Medical and Research Services, VA San Diego Healthcare System; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego; tbigby@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Bigby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary*; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D019720:Otoscopes / Q000662:veterinary*
references.citation: Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 1996 Jun;14(6):627-34
references.pmid: 8652191
references.citation: Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2004 May-Jun;8(3):103-6
references.pmid: 15368792
references.citation: J Appl Physiol (1985). 1999 Dec;87(6):2362-5
references.pmid: 10601190
references.citation: Lab Anim (NY). 2006 Mar;35(3):39-42
references.pmid: 16505825
references.citation: Exp Lung Res. 2010 Feb;36(1):25-30
references.pmid: 20128679
references.citation: Circulation. 1996 Nov 15;94(10):2641-8
references.pmid: 8921812
references.citation: Am J Emerg Med. 1999 Nov;17(7):715-21
references.pmid: 10597098
references.citation: Lab Anim. 2009 Oct;43(4):399-401
references.pmid: 19535395
references.citation: Lab Anim. 2008 Apr;42(2):222-30
references.pmid: 18435880
references.citation: J Appl Physiol (1985). 2009 Mar;106(3):984-7
references.pmid: 19150857
references.citation: Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci. 2005 Mar;44(2):52-5
references.pmid: 15773778
references.citation: Lab Anim. 2011 Apr;45(2):81-9
references.pmid: 21357700
references.citation: Lab Anim. 2007 Jan;41(1):128-35
references.pmid: 17234059
references.citation: J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2010 Sep-Oct;34(5):783-90
references.pmid: 20861787
references.citation: Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci. 1999 Nov;38(6):33-35
references.pmid: 12086445
references.citation: Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 1996 May;14(5):487-95
references.pmid: 8624254
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Sep 15;88(18):8277-81
references.pmid: 1832775
references.citation: Lab Anim. 2003 Jul;37(3):204-6
references.pmid: 12869282