• Placement of a nasal catheter to supplement inspired air with oxygen.

Uses

• Trauma/shock cases.
• Post-operative cases where swelling or fluid obstructs the nasal passages.

Rabbits are obligate nasal breathers.

• Medical cases benefitting from increased inspiratory oxygen concentration:
  • Respiratory tract disease, eg pneumonia Pneumonia, rhinitis Rhinitis / sinusitis, pulmonary neoplasia, aspiration, other upper and lower respiratory tract diseases causing dyspnea Dyspnea.
  • Cardiac disease.
  • Thoracic disease, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, trauma.
  • Other, eg septicemia, toxemia, shock.
• During general anesthesia with injectable agents, nasal oxygen supplementation may be used. A small facemask may be held over the nares, or a catheter or small endotracheal tube may be placed intranasally for this.
• Can be used in association with nasotracheal intubation.

The rest of this topic will discuss placement of nasal catheters in patients requiring longer term oxygen supplementation. 

Advantages

• Can be placed in conscious patients.

Disadvantages

• Nasal occlusion, eg discharges/swellings/masses, will make catheter placement more difficult.

Care in cases with upper respiratory tract disease, as there is a risk of transfer of pathogens to the lower respiratory tract if the catheter is pushed deeper into the respiratory tract.

Technical problems

• Minimizing stress to patient.
• Maintenance of nasal attachment in conscious rabbit.
• Periodontal disease/abscess may penetrate nasal airways, filling them with pus, precluding placement of a nasal tube.

Alternative techniques

• Place the animal in an intensive therapy/oxygen cage .
• Fit an Elizabethan collar fronted with cling film and with a side hole through which an oxygen tube can be positioned.
• Pediatric nasal oxygen cannula can also be used in rabbits.

Time required

Preparation

• 2-3 min.

Procedure

• 5-10 min.

Decision taking

Criteria for choosing test

• When the method is more accurate to use, consider nasal catheter or nasal mask placement versus oxygen cage in debilitated animals.

Risk assessment

• Minimize stress where possible, eg using analgesia and/or sedation in certain patients.
• Check cardiac and respiratory function before the nasal oxygen administration.