Healing touch of liquid breath.Animal tests indicate that a substance being developed as artificial blood (SN: 9/26/87, p. 200) may also substitute for the air that moves in and out of lungs. Perfluorocarbon liquid not only provides adequate gas exchange, but also helps heal damaged lung tissue, says Ronald B. Hirschl, a surgeon at the University of Michigan (body, education) University of Michigan - A large cosmopolitan university in the Midwest USA. Over 50000 students are enrolled at the University of Michigan's three campuses. The students come from 50 states and over 100 foreign countries. Medical School in Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, city (1990 pop. 109,592), seat of Washtenaw co., S Mich., on the Huron River; inc. 1851. It is a research and educational center, with a large number of government and industrial research and development firms, many in high-technology fields such as . Even though ventilators can help people with lung problems breathe, about 40,000 people a year die of respiratory failure Respiratory Failure Definition Respiratory failure is nearly any condition that affects breathing function or the lungs themselves and can result in failure of the lungs to function properly. in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . "We don't have a good way of treating the lungs or [making] them better," Hirschl says. So he evaluated the performance of this oxygen-carrying liquid in 12 sheep. Hirschl sedated the sheep, damaged their lungs, and made the airways collapse. He then placed six of the animals on typical gas ventilators and six on ventilators that circulated perfluorocarbon through the lungs. He measured how much oxygen entered the animals' blood and, 2V2 hours later, examined the lung tissue. Perfluorocarbon provides two to three times as much oxygen as ventilation with air does, Hirschl reports. In addition, the lung tissue of the sheep treated with perfluorocarbon showed much less hemorrhaging and fluid buildup build·up also build-up n. 1. The act or process of amassing or increasing: a military buildup; a buildup of tension during the strike. 2. than the lung tissue of the other sheep. The liquid seems to flush out "gunk" -- fluid filled with proteins and red and white blood cells White blood cells A group of several cell types that occur in the bloodstream and are essential for a properly functioning immune system. Mentioned in: Abscess Incision & Drainage, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Complement Deficiencies , which seeps into the lungs and impedes gas exchange, says Hirschl. Perfluorocarbon reinflates collapsed airways and, because it is heavier than air, may cause blood flow to shift to undamaged airways. Hirschl is seeking permission from the Food and Drug Administration to try this treatment in people. |
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