SIMPLE METHOD OF MULTIPURPOSE AIRWAY ACCESS THROUGH PERCUTANEOUS TRACHEOSTOMY IN RABBITS (ORYCTOLAGUS-CUNICULUS)

Before percutaneous tracheostomy, rabbits were anesthetized and placed in the supine position with the head extended. A needle cricothyroido tomy was then performed. With the help of a guidewire and vessel dilat or, a sheath introducer with sideport extension was secured into the a irway. This system provided airway access for introduction or sampling of materials while the animal was breathing around the sheath introdu cer or through the sideport. This simple procedure was used successful ly in more than 25 rabbits that recuperated and lived for several days without ongoing medical support.