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>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. This has been _partially_ solved for cardiac surgery. Cardiopulmonary bypass is routinely used but it usually takes a large machine, several people and a lot of money to do it (in terms of disposables etc). It has also been used for respiratory support of patients in intensive care units with respiratory failure due to pneumonia. This fledgeling technique is called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and it requires even more effort than cardiopulmonary bypass. For adults you need large catheters in arteries, a substantial flow through the system to acheive adequate oxygenation, anticoagulation to prevent clotting, pumps, filters, alarm systems, and even then it is difficult to sustain for over a week due to problems of infection and arterial access sites. It is well-proven in neonatal intensive care. Unlikely this would ever be a practical proposition. As for liquid breathing per se, I can't see how this ever going to be more useful or practical than a one-atmosphere suit. Can anyone? Regards, Andy. Dr Andrew Pitkin apitkin@ad*.de*.co*.uk* apitkin@ci*.co*.co*.uk*
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