Flushing trillions of tiny oxygen bubbles through the rectum increases blood oxygen in pigs and could be an alternative to ventilation for people with damaged lungs
Health
15 December 2021
Pigs recover from low blood oxygen levels after bubbles are injected into their rectum Tyler Stableford Photography/Getty Images
The injection of trillions of tiny oxygen bubbles into the rectum has been shown to raise blood oxygen levels and lower carbon dioxide levels in pigs whose lungs were damaged by smoke. The researchers are now seeking the go-ahead to do safety tests of the procedure in healthy volunteers.
The approach could help people, whatever the cause of their low blood oxygen. For instance, people with covid-19 often come into hospitals with very low oxygen levels, …