AIR BUTT

Scientists Safely Test New Way to Breathe

The tests could be a harbinger of new ways to help those struggling to breathe.

Scientists have safely tested a method of delivering oxygen to the human body through the butt, potentially opening a surprising new pathway to aid humans suffering respiratory failure. The technique, called enteral ventilation, delivers oxygen via a liquid squeezed into the rectum, where the oxygen is then absorbed by intestines. According to the report, the worst side effect patients experienced from the procedure was mild bloating. Speaking to 404 Media, Dr. Takanori Takebe said enteral ventilation was “not meant to replace mechanical ventilators or ECMO, but rather to serve as a complementary oxygenation route.” Though the test concluded that the process is safe, it has yet to be tested on patients suffering respiratory failure. If future testing is successful, enteral ventilation could serve as a temporary measure to help patients get oxygen before normal lung function resumes or a patient can get on a ventilator. This could prove particularly helpful for newborn infants or patients suffering from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.