Within minutes of the final heartbeat, a cascade of biochemical events triggered by a lack of blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients begins to destroy a body’s cells and organs. But a team of Yale scientists has found that massive and permanent cellular failure doesn’t have to happen so quickly.
Using a new technology the team developed that delivers a specially designed cell-protective fluid to organs and tissues, the researchers restored blood circulation and other cellular functions in pigs a full hour after their deaths, they reported in the August 3 , 2022 edition of the journal ‘Nature’.
The findings may help extend the health of human organs during surgery and expand availability of donor organs, the authors said.
The OrganEx technology could eventually have several potential applications, the authors shared. For instance, it could extend the life of organs in human patients and expand the availability of donor organs for transplant. It might also be able to help treat organs or tissue damaged by ischemia during heart attacks or strokes.
Phew — the powers of innovation and technology!!