Moffitt, A. D., McDaid, K. 2024. Easy rabbit intubation for all: Ear canal camera as an economical alternative to video laryngoscope. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(4) (July/August), 16–19.

Endotracheal (ET) intubation is challenging in rabbits compared to other species due to their deep, narrow oral cavity, large incisors, and large tongue which hinders laryngoscopic visualization. When rabbit intubation is needed, a blind technique is commonly employed rather than using a laryngoscope. While experienced staff may be proficient in blind intubation, it can take weeks of practice to master. Furthermore, as rabbits are obligate nasal breathers with their epiglottis positioned dorsal to the soft palate, lack of visualization can lead to multiple attempts and potential tissue damage before successful intubation occurs. Therefore, visualization of the laryngeal inlet can be an important refinement, especially for novice staff. Another method that avoids using a laryngoscope is retrograde intubation with a guidewire inserted via tracheotomy. While reliable, tracheotomy is invasive which increases risks of bleeding, infection, dehiscence, or stricture. Others have achieved noninvasive visualization for rabbit intubation using modified laryngoscopes, modified video laryngoscopes, endoscopes, and fiber-optic laparoscopes. These tools are effective, but have some limitations. We wanted to find an economical solution for noninvasive visualization that would make rabbit intubation easy even for trainees. Here we describe the use of a commercially available ear canal camera (marketed as an earwax removal device) as a simple, inexpensive tool for visualization that greatly increased our historic average speed of rabbit intubation when used by novice staff.