How can you perform artificial respiration on a rat? - briefly
Insert a small, lubricated catheter into the trachea and deliver breaths using a calibrated syringe or miniature ventilator, maintaining airway patency and appropriate tidal volume. Monitor thoracic excursions and oxygen saturation to adjust ventilation rate and avoid barotrauma.
How can you perform artificial respiration on a rat? - in detail
Artificial ventilation of a laboratory rat requires precise preparation, equipment selection, and monitoring.
First, ensure ethical approval and compliance with institutional animal care guidelines. Anesthetize the animal with an injectable agent (e.g., ketamine‑xylazine) or inhalational anesthetic delivered via a calibrated vaporizer. Verify the depth of anesthesia by the absence of withdrawal reflexes.
Next, secure the airway. Perform a midline cervical incision to expose the trachea, or use a specialized rodent intubation kit. Insert a 20‑22 G catheter or a silicone tube into the tracheal lumen, confirming placement by observing chest excursions during spontaneous breaths.
Connect the tube to a small‑volume respirator (e.g., a pressure‑controlled piston ventilator or a manual bellows system). Set ventilation parameters according to the rat’s body weight (approximately 250–300 g): tidal volume 6–8 ml kg⁻¹, respiratory rate 60–80 breaths min⁻¹, inspiratory‑to‑expiratory ratio 1:2, and peak inspiratory pressure not exceeding 15 cm H₂O. Adjust oxygen concentration to 100 % or the desired FiO₂.
Continuously monitor physiological variables: respiratory waveform, airway pressure, pulse oximetry, and heart rate. Maintain body temperature at 37 °C with a heating pad. If apnea occurs, deliver rescue breaths manually until spontaneous breathing resumes.
After the procedure, withdraw the tube gently, close the incision with absorbable sutures, and administer analgesics (e.g., buprenorphine). Observe the animal during recovery, ensuring normal respiration and activity before returning it to the housing environment.