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>There's been something that I've wondered about for a while... > >The reason that we breathe is that we need (essentially) to remove Carbon >Dioxide from our bodies and distribute Oxygen. It is also well known that >it's the level of Carbon Dioxide in our systems that triggers the urge to >breathe. > >What would happen if a (or possibly two) catheter(s) were inserted into an >artery that would send it through an oxygenator? As long as the oxygenator >removed CO2, you wouldn't feel the need to breathe. Since you're not >breathing, you don't need a diluent to bring the total pressure of an >inspired gas high enough to allow your chest muscles to draw the gas into >your lungs against the ambient pressure against your thorax. There are the >problems of preventing clots from being circulated, but I believe that >problem has been somewhat solved for surgical procedures. CO2 and to a lesser extent O2 modify the rate of breathing, but respiratory rhythm is primarily under control of groups of respiratory neurons in the medulla (that is a bit of your central nervous system) so you wouldn't stop breathing. >Since there is no diluent, there should not be any problems with narcs, >DCI, HPNS, etc. In fact, the diver wouldn't need anything to cover their >mouth. You would not get narcosis or DCI but you would get HPNS as the latter is not related to inspired gases. The same is true, however, for liquid breathing. regards, David Doolette ddoolett@me*.ad*.ed*.au*
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