CCOMPARATIVE TOPOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE RESPIRATORY APPARATUS OF Ramphastus tucanos AND Pteroglossus aracari AND IT USE FOR INHALATION ANESTHESIA AND MECHANICAL VENTILATION.
Orotracheal, Ranfastides, Air sacs.
Ramphastos tucanus and Pteroglossus aracari are birds belonging to the family Ramphastidae, both species with imposing plumage, long and colorful beaks, this being their main characteristic. However, little is known about the morphological aspects of these species, making it difficult for veterinarians to act, especially regarding the respiratory system, target of important disorders in birds, as well as fundamental for respiratory and anesthetic maintenance during surgical procedures. The anatomy of the respiratory system of six Ramphastos tucanus and four Pteroglossus aracari submitted to pre and post tracheal infusion of pigmented and contrasted latex, followed by dissection of the cellular cavity, was evaluated. The animals evaluated showed similarities among themselves, and to what is described in domestic birds, with small morphological differences characteristic of each species. Both showed trachea with complete and rounded cartilaginous rings and seven air sacs identified as follows: a single clavicular air sac, a pair of cervical air sacs, a pair of thoracic air sacs, and a pair of abdominal air sacs. For the purposes of inhalation anesthesia and mechanical ventilation, the most appropriate cannula for orotracheal intubation in R. toucans should be 4.5 mm in diameter and for P. aracari it should be 3.0 mm in diameter, and the cannulation for air sac anesthesia in both species is suggested to be performed in the thoracic air sac, which is a single pair.