Scientists Discover a Way to Breathe Without Lungs 0 7

Researchers from Osaka University have demonstrated for the first time that oxygen can be safely administered to humans through the intestines. The results of clinical trials published in the journal Med show that enteral ventilation technology — the delivery of oxygen-containing liquid through the rectum — could serve as a backup method for maintaining breathing in cases of lung damage or airway obstruction.

The experiment involved 27 healthy volunteers. They were administered between 25 and 1500 milliliters of a special perfluorocarbon solution capable of carrying oxygen into the intestines. Participants held the liquid for an hour: no serious side effects were reported, only moderate discomfort at maximum volumes.

Scientists note that the study has so far focused only on the safety of the procedure, but the next phase will aim to test its effectiveness — how quickly oxygen can penetrate the blood and improve tissue saturation. If the method proves to be effective, it could save the lives of patients with severe respiratory failure when traditional methods of lung ventilation are insufficient.