Artificial Respiration in Birds by Unidirectional Air Flow

Abstract

Depression of respiratory movements by anesthesia is a frequent cause of bird death during surgery; however, asphyxia so caused may often be prevented by artificial respiration. With birds the technique described herein is very simple, and involves none of the elaborate equipment required for artificial respiration in mammals.

The avian lung parenchyma consists of a series of interconnecting tubules that lead untimately into air sacs. The normal flow of air in the lungs (regardless of controversial theories of air-flow mechanisms) is through these tubules, to and/or from at least some of the air sacs. If access to an air sac is established, a unidirectional air flow that maintains fully adequate respiratory exchange may be established in either direction.

This technique has been used for several years in our laboratory (e.g., VanMatre, 1957; Lytle, 1958) for routine surgery, and also for class exercises in respiratory physiology. The post-thoracic air sac is…