Use of laboratory animals in the teaching of emergency procedures

The Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics uses animal laboratory sessions to train emergency medicine residents in manipulative skills. Certain animals realistically represent the human for these purposes and are delineated for various procedures. On the other hand, animal tissue characteristics and anatomical landmarks generally differ from those of humans. How procedures such as cricothyreotomy; tracheostomy, tube thoracostomy, thoractomy, cardiac repair, aortic cross clamping, venous cutdown, peritoneal lavage, abdominal stab wound exploration and laparotomy can be performed and must be modified is discussed. A rational procedural sequence is required to maintain the animal's vitality through the end of the session.