Mannekin training uses specially designed, anatomically correct models. A mannekin can be intubated repeatedly by many individuals and training classes, without fear of harming the subject. With proper care, mannekins can be used indefinitely, making them less expensive than animals. When a live teaching subject is used, most students refrain from repeating the procedure because of the obvious traumatic implication associated with an entire class subjecting a few animals to this over and over again. Using models is less expensive and solves the problem of anatomical differences between cats and babies.
Trainees see the actual location and size of the components of the human oropharyngeal cavity.
Intubation on living humans is usually observed first, then performed under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist. Dangerous Differences Clinicians should receive adequate training on physiologically relevant models before intubating human patients, but the anatomical differences between cats and humans are too great to apply to humans the skills learned on cats. Cats have larger, sharper teeth, proportionately larger tongues, more copious salivation, smaller anterior larynxes, dome-shaped arytenoid cartilages, and larger epiglottises than humans. Opposition to the use of animals for intubation training is growing. During this procedure, cats are extremely susceptible to laryngospasm, which, if it occurs, makes intubation impossible.