[avarberickibe]

00:47 GMT, 30 June 2012 | Daily Mail

Scientists have discovered a new way of administering oxygen to the blood which could allow
people to stay alive without breathing.

The amazing breakthrough could change medical science by eliminating the need to keep patients
breathing during complex operations.

The procedure, which works by injecting oxygen molecules enclosed in fatty molecules directly into
the bloodstream, could grant people an extra 30 minutes of life when they cannot breathe.



John Kheir, of the Boston Children's Hospital, was inspired to begin his groundbreaking research
after he experienced a patient's tragic death because doctors were unable to place her on a
breathing apparatus in time to save her.

Dr Kheir started working on the idea of bypassing the pulmonary system and inserting oxygen
directly into the blood.

Injecting pure oxygen into the bloodstream in gas form failed miserably when it was attempted 100
years ago, as it formed dangerous bubbles in the veins.

Much of Dr Kheir's research therefore involved finding a substance which could enclose the oxygen
and allow it to be suspended in a liquid for injection into the body.

He found that using fatty molecules called lipids was the best way to retain oxygen after using sound
waves to trap the two substances together into particles so small they can only be seen with the help
of a microscope.

When the liquid solution was injected into animals with abnormally low levels of blood oxygen, their
blood returned to normal within seconds.

And when it was administered to animals which were entirely unable to breathe, they remained alive
for 15 minutes and were at lower risk of health complications.

When used on humans, the oxygen could probably last for up to 30 minutes, though injecting it for
any longer could damage the patient's blood.

He added that he thought the technique could become routine for doctors and parademics dealing
with emergency situations.