Anesthetizing with Isoflurane in Pearse Hall

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Anesthetizing with Isoflurane

Step 1: Weigh F/Air canisters and put weight on the can with the date and your initials. When the weight increases by 50 gms, the canister is full. If canister is full or has 12 hours of use recorded, replace with fresh canister. Call x4999 for disposal when full or has been used for 12 hours.
Step 2: Turn main cylinder valve on O2 tank counter clockwise (left-loose). (O2 will now read tank pressure.)
Step 3: Turn the outlet to the induction chamber parallel and turn the valve to the nosecone perpendicular. This allows all the gas to flow to the induction chamber.
Step 4: Turn O2 to 4L/min flow.
Step 5: Put rat in chamber.
Step 6: Push down tab and turn Isoflurane dial to 4. Note the time Isoflurane use starts for later use.
Step 7: When the animal is sufficiently anesthetized, turn Isoflurane off and let O2 flush out chamber before opening to remove animal.
Step 8: Remove rat and prep.
Step 9: Put rat on nose cone or stereotax device.
Step 10: Change the flow valves so that the valve to the nosecone is parallel and the valve to the Induction chamber is perpendicular – turning it off.
Step 11: Turn Isoflurane to 2.5 – 3. Turn O2 to about .6 L/min ≈600 ml/min) to keep the animal sufficiently anesthetized.
NOTE: These are just guidelines. Check the toe pinch reflex to assess the level of anesthesia of the animal.

To Wake Up Animal

  • Turn Isoflurane off and turn O2 up to 4L/min. (The animal will begin to wake up within a few minutes.) Record on the canister the amount of time the F/Air canister was used.
  • Remove animal and put in recovery housing.
  • Turn off Oxygen tank.
  • Record the amount of Oxygen in the tank on the sign up sheet.
  • Notify the ARC when the level falls below 200 psi.

Filling and Emptying Isoflurane Vaporizer

To Fill:

  • Make sure hose is attached to exhaust fan duct. Turn on switch.
  • Place spill pad under reservoir and remove reservoir cap.
  • Place ventilation “elephant trunk” (E-trunk) close to reservoir so as to capture vapors when dispensing.
  • Turn reservoir cap counter-clockwise and remove.
  • Pour isoflurane slowly while watching level in guide window (sight glass).
  • When full or at desired level, replace cap turning clockwise.
  • Watch guide level in window. When finished filling, seal Isoflurane bottle and replace reservoir cap.
  • Turn off e-trunk.
  • Place Isoflurane bottle in storage.

To Empty:

Note: The isoflurane only needs to be removed if the vaporizer will be moved and not level.

  1. Place ventilation “elephant trunk” (E-trunk) close to reservoir so as to capture vapors when dispensing. Turn on.
  2. Place isoflurane bottle under reservoir drain to capture isoflurane.
  3. Turn screw located under reservoir counter-clockwise to open. Isoflurane will drip out bottom.
  4. When done dripping, turn screw clockwise to close and replace cap.
  5. Turn off e-trunk.

Updated April 1, 2008 by SAK