Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Applied emergency hypothermia: The science of zombie dogs

"U.S. scientists have apparently discovered a way to reanimate dogs that have been clinically dead for three hours, a process intended for future human trials.

frozendog.jpgA new scientific approach tested at the Safar Centre for Resuscitation Research, based in Pittsburgh, drains some of the animal's blood and replaces it with an ice-cold salt solution. The dog--considered technically dead without a heartbeat or brain waves--is then revived with a blood transfusion and electric shock up to three hours later. The process, called "suspended animation with delayed resuscitation," is ultimately designed to help suspend and revive emergency victims, such as casualties of war or car accidents, who have experienced an otherwise lethal hemorrhage." - news.com

"All investigations using animals at the Center are carried out with general anesthesia comparable to the standards used in the treatment of human beings. Rigorous attention is paid to the use of pain medications, national standards for ensuring the general welfare of the animals are adhered to, and there is stringent oversight by the veterinary staff of the University of Pittsburgh." - safar

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