Comparison of face mask and endotracheal intubation techniques for general anaesthesia in rabbits

An experimental study was conducted in 12 male New Zealand White rabbits to compare the face mask and endotracheal intubation techniques for maintenance of anaesthesia. Butorphanol was given @ 0.1 mg/kg IM as premedicant followed by ketamine (20 mg/kg IM) and midazolam (1mg/kg IM) for induction of anaesthesia and maintenance using isoflurane with oxygen (0.5–3.0% with 1.5 LPM O₂) up to 30 min. The rabbits were randomly divided into facemask group (Group I; n=6) and endotracheal intubation group (Group II; n=6) and were observed for righting reflex, corneal reflex, palpebral reflex, ear-pinch and toe-pinch reflexes and the jaw muscle tone. Respiratory rate decreased significantly (P<0.01) in group II. Haemoglobin, PCV and TEC showed a decreasing trend. Monocytes, increased significantly at 10 min. ALT increased in group I but decreased in group II; however, AST showed an increasing trend in both groups. Both techniques of maintenance of anaesthesia are equally useful.