First Steps in Eliminating the Need for Animals and Cadavers in Advanced Trauma Life Support®

The Advanced Trauma Life Support course is designed to provide for optimal initial resuscitation of the seriously injured patient. The surgical skills component of this course requires the use of cadavers or anesthetized animals. Significant anatomical differences and ethical issues limit the utility of animals. The cost and difficulty in procuring cadavers makes widespread use of this option impractical. A combination of mannequin and computer-based surgical simulators is being developed to replace these animals and cadavers. The first of these simulators, a pericardiocentesis trainer, is complete.