In recent years students have increasingly objected to laboratory exercises
involving animal subjects. We have replaced the valuable animal experiment
s with demonstrations using a full-scale human patient simulator. In small
groups first-year medical students observe realistic clinical situations su
ch as opioid-induced hypoventilation, pneumothorax, and pulmonary edema. St
udents obtain information through physical examination, arterial blood gas
analysis and chest radiography. They practice interventions such as providi
ng supplemental oxygen and mask ventilation, monitor the results, and devel
op a basic differential diagnosis and treatment plan. We utilize the clinic
al context to review fundamental concepts of respiratory physiology includi
ng the alveolar air equation and oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve. The stud
ents give these laboratory exercises uniformly superior evaluations.