Use of the Nasal Speculum for Rat Endotracheal Intubation

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.