It has been reported this week that trials will start later this month for human suspended animation at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.
It has been announced that 10 patients with injuries otherwise fatal to operate on, will have their blood replaced with a chilled saline solution that will cool their body, slowing down bodily functions and delaying their death from loss of blood.
Dr. Samuel Tisherman explained in an interview with the New Scientist: “We are suspending life, but we don’t like to call it suspended animation because it sounds like science fiction… we call it emergency preservation and resuscitation.”
The Science Behind Suspended Animation
Suspended animation, or emergency preservation and resuscitation (EPR) as it is formally known, involves replacing the patient’s blood with a chilled saline solution. This process rapidly cools the body to around 10-15 degrees Celsius, significantly slowing down cellular activity and metabolic processes. By doing so, it buys critical time for surgeons to repair injuries that would otherwise be fatal. The cooling process reduces the body’s need for oxygen, thereby delaying the onset of cell death due to blood loss.
The concept of suspended animation has long been a staple of science fiction, often depicted as a means to preserve astronauts during long space voyages or to extend human life. However, the real-world application is far more immediate and practical. The primary goal is to save lives in emergency trauma situations where conventional medical interventions would be insufficient.
Current Limitations and Future Prospects
Unfortunately, the current human suspended animation technology is not advanced enough to keep humans in suspension for longer than four hours at the current time. This limitation is due to the complexities involved in safely rewarming the body and restarting normal physiological functions. The rewarming process must be carefully controlled to avoid complications such as reperfusion injury, where the sudden return of blood flow can cause tissue damage.
So there is a long way to go before we can expect to slip into suspended animation for trips into space, as pictured in the screenshot taken from the Alien movie. Which coincidentally also celebrates its 35th birthday this week since it was launched into theatres back in 1979.
Despite these challenges, the potential applications of suspended animation are vast. Beyond emergency trauma care, researchers are exploring its use in cardiac arrest cases, stroke treatment, and even complex surgical procedures that require extended periods of low blood flow. The ability to “pause” life could revolutionize medical care, providing doctors with the precious time needed to perform life-saving interventions.
For more information on the new human suspended animation trials, jump over to the Acute Care Research website for details.
Source: Engadget
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