J Am Assoc Lab Anim
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · Mar 2009
Successful management of rabbit anesthesia through the use of nasotracheal intubation.
Although nasotracheal intubation in the rabbit has been briefly described, scientific assessment of the procedure has not been reported. In this report we describe nasotracheal intubation performed in 38 male New Zealand White rabbits (3.0 to 5.5 kg) used for a vascular patch study. The rabbits were placed under general anesthesia twice, with 2 mo between the initial and final intubations. ⋯ Several key points collectively facilitated a successful procedure. Total relaxation was essential, modification of the classic blind approach eased placement, a correct approach was necessary, and our development of a unique method of securing the tube improved tube management. The findings suggest that nasotracheal intubation can be used as an easy, less traumatic method of rabbit intubation when compared with orotracheal intubation.
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · Jan 2009
The effects of fasting and general anesthesia on serum chemistries in KCG miniature pigs.
Investigators are obligated to optimize the perioperative care of experimental animals, but little is known about the effects of anesthesia and surgery on serum chemistries in KCG pigs. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of fasting and surgery under general anesthesia on 27 serum chemistries in KCG miniature pigs to improve management. Crossbred KCG minipigs were used at a mean of 12.3 mo of age (range, 8.6 to 14.9) and 33.4 kg of body weight (range, 24.0 to 40.2). ⋯ In a separate experiment (n = 7), serum glucose and insulin also decreased during the postoperative period after isoflurane anesthesia. These results demonstrate that select serum electrolytes, glucose, and insulin of KCG miniature pigs are altered after general anesthesia. Investigators must be aware of the effects of anesthetic agents on experimental animals to provide optimal care and for interpretation of experimental data.
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · May 2008
The effects of depth of isoflurane anesthesia on the performance of mice in a simple spatial learning task.
Studies on humans and rodents indicate possible long-term cognitive impairment after surgery or general anesthesia. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of various anesthetic concentrations on spatial learning in adult mice. ⋯ The performance of the mice anesthetized with 2% isoflurane was not statistically different from that of the control group. Therefore, low, not high, isoflurane concentration impaired spatial learning in mice.
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · Sep 2007
Study of two devices used to maintain normothermia in rats and mice during general anesthesia.
Rodents are very susceptible to hypothermia during anesthetic events because of their high body surface-to-mass ratio. This study examined the effectiveness of 2 heating devices, a heatpad and a circulating hot-water blanket, during 60 min of isoflurane general anesthesia in rats and mice (n = 6 per treatment). In addition, 1 control group of animals for each species was anesthetized with no heat source (n = 6). ⋯ Although statistically significant, these deviations from baseline body temperature were not considered physiologically relevant. In comparison, body temperatures decreased significantly in rats and mice (4.42 +/- 0.60 and 9.90 +/- 0.35 degrees C, respectively) with no heat source. Both heating devices were safe and effective, but the low cost, ease of maintenance, and portability of the heatpad may make it a more desirable choice in some facilities.
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · Sep 2007
Baseline hemodynamics in anesthetized landrace-large white swine: reference values for research in cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation models.
The use of swine in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) research has increased in the last decades. Landrace-Large White (LLW) swine are a farm breed of pigs. ⋯ The mean pressures of the right atrium were 10.93 +/- 1.36 mm Hg (systolic) and 4.10 +/- 1.01 mm Hg (diastolic), whereas the value obtained by using near-infrared spectroscopy to determine brain regional oxygen saturation was 64.55% +/- 3.88%. LLW can be considered a suitable breed for CPR research because of the close similarity of its hemodynamic values to those of humans.