Blind oral tracheal intubation of rats.

Tracheal intubation is often necessary for experiments involving anesthetized rats. Previously described methods for endotracheal intubation have required either a tracheostomy or intubation under direct vision. These techniques require considerable time and skill. Therefore we dissected rats to evaluate the anatomy of the airway. Using these data, we originated a technique for blind oral tracheal intubation using a modified 16-gauge intravenous catheter. The technique has a reasonable success rate and can be performed much more rapidly than conventional methods.