Introduction

• Reflexes are suppressed during anesthesia   →   risk of regurgitation and aspiration by an 'unprotected' airway.
• Inhalational anesthesia is the preferred means of anesthesia   Anesthesia: general - overview  .
• Endotracheal intubation ensures control of respiration if necessary.

Anesthetic gases are volatile and pose a risk to personnel.

Uses

• Maintenance of general anesthesia   Anesthesia: general - overview  using inhalational agents.
• Protect airway during general anesthesia and recovery for intravenous   Anesthesia: intravenous (IV)  and inhalational anesthesia.
• Accurate delivery of anesthetic gases.
• Prevent loss of volatile agents to atmosphere and risk to personnel.
• Removal of excess respiratory secretions.
• Control of ventilation and delivery of oxygen.
• Reduce respiratory deadspace.
• Emergency situation - IPPV   Anesthesia: ventilators - overview  .

Advantages

• Simple and quick procedure.
• Very low risk of placing tube incorrectly.

Disadvantages

• Cannot visualize larynx during intubation.
• No validated guidelines on size of tube to use.
• Diameter too narrow   →   inadequate airway protection, underventilation of the horse, increase in resistance.
• Diameter too wide   →   damage to tracheal mucosa, problems at placement.

Requirements

Preparation

Procedure

Aftercare

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Saulez M N, Dzikiti B & Voigt A (2009) Traumatic perforation of the trachea in two horses caused by orotracheal intubation. Vet Rec 164 (23), 719-722 PubMed.
• Eicker S W (1990) Equipment for inhalational anesthesia. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 6 (3), 543-555 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Hall L W, Clarke K W & Trim C M (2001) Eds. Veterinary Anaesthesia. 10th edn. W B Saunders.
• Thurmon J C, Tranquilli W J & Benson G J (1996) Eds. Lumb & Jones' Veterinary Anesthesia. 3rd edn. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
• Riebold T W, Geiser D R & Goble D O (1995)Large Animal Anesthesia; Principles and techniques.2nd edn. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. pp 65-71 & 83-125.
• Vaughan J T & Allen R Jr (1982)Physical and chemical restraint.In:Equine Medicine and Surgery.Eds: R A Mansmann, E S McAllister & P W Pratt. American Veterinary Publications, California.