Blood substitute repairs damaged organs hours after heart stops
New ScientistSep 09, 2022
The Facts
According to research published in the journal Nature, scientists were able to restore circulation to pigs' organs an hour after the animals died, by pumping a synthetic blood substitute through the blood vessels.
Yale researchers developed a device, titled 'OrganEx', that delivers a substance containing compounds that maintain organ function. The development builds on a 2019 breakthrough that saw a team restore a pig's brain functions four hours after death.
The Spin
Narrative A
Animal testing is cruel, unethical, and dangerous to humans. The National Institute of Health has admitted that 95% of animal tests - which cost US taxpayers more than $15B per year - fail to translate to humans. This money would be better spent on new methods, including the use of microchips that construct postage stamp-size organs from human cells.
Narrative B
This revolutionary treatment is a major breakthrough that could one day save the lives of people who would currently be considered dead. Although there's a long way to go before human application, the practical use of this system could eventually keep organs healthy for longer and provide those in need with transplants.
