Conversion of a Large Animal Inhalational Anesthesia Machine to One for Small Animal Use
Abstract
The use of injectable anesthesia in animal research practices has the disadvantage of uncontrollable anesthesia depth, which leads to toxicity and at times death. This adversely influences research and, animal care and welfare. Injectable anesthesia is generally employed in small research animals, since body mass issues prevent the use of conventional inhalation anesthesia machines, while specialized small animal devices are too costly. To support small animal research in mice and rats, a conventional inhalation anesthesia machine, suitable only for large animals, was converted such that it could also support small animal anesthesia. This conversion was rapidly and easily achieved employing inexpensive materials generally found in most laboratories. Multiple animals could be simultaneously anesthetized, such that surgical procedures in large groups of animals could be completed in less time. Animals rapidly-recovernd from anesthesia to become ambulatory. No anesthesia-related deaths were recorded. This modification employed effective strategies to limit anesthetic gas contamination of the outside environment, such that exposures to personnel were within acceptable limits. Such a conversion of inhalation anesthesia equipment provided an effective, efficient and safe alternative to the use of injectable anesthetics in small research animals. Its application supported conservation of research resources, reduced anesthesia-related confounding factors on research quality, and improved animal care and welfare.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA423377
Entities
People
- David A. Dubose
- Larry D. Walker
- Lisa R. Leon
- Michael D. Blaha
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine