Some mammals have this extraordinary ability, namely breathe with the intestines. Scientists are looking to see if humans can do it too.
What for?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals ran out ventilator. This breathing apparatus is vital, working by pushing air directly into the lungs to introduce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide.
In order not to become overwhelmed when they run out of ventilators, scientists are looking for new ways to pump oxygen into the body. However the techniques that exist today, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), risk of triggering bleeding and blood clots.
In order to find new solutions, scientists studied several aquatic animals such as sea cucumbers and fish Misgumus anguillicandatus which can breathe with the intestines. So far, no one knew that mammals also have the same ability.
“We initially looked at a mouse model to see if we could enter oxygen through the anus,” said Takanori Takebe of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, quoted from Livescience.
In their research, the researchers placed mice in an environment with low oxygen. As a result, they only lasted 11 minutes. With ventilation or assisted anal breathing, 75 percent of the mice survived for 50 minutes!
The scientists then tried again with oxygen the liquid is entered the same route, this time in mice, mice, and pigs. The results are considered quite promising.
In a publication in the journal Med, scientists say further research is needed to determine whether a similar approach is safe and effective enough in humans.
Watch Video “Czech Man Quits Job To Produce Affordable Ventilators“
[Gambas:Video 20detik]
(up/up)
– .
