Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

elleng

(130,130 posts)
Mon Jun 9, 2014, 04:34 PM Jun 2014

A Chilling Medical Trial

Trauma patients arriving at an emergency room here following a gunshot or knife wound may find themselves enrolled in a startling medical experiment.

Surgeons will drain their blood and replace it with freezing salt water. Without heartbeat and brain activity, the patients will be clinically dead.

And then the surgeons will try to save their lives.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have begun a clinical trial that pushes the boundaries of conventional surgery — and, some say, medical ethics.

By inducing hypothermia and slowing metabolism in dying patients, doctors hope to buy valuable time in which to mend the victims’ wounds.

But scientists have never tried anything like this in humans, and the unconscious patients will not be able to consent to the procedure. Indeed, the medical center has been providing free bracelets to be worn by skittish citizens here who do not want to participate should they somehow wind up in the E.R.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/10/health/a-chilling-medical-trial.html?hp

1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A Chilling Medical Trial (Original Post) elleng Jun 2014 OP
I can see this for multiple potentially fatal gunshot wounds Warpy Jun 2014 #1

Warpy

(110,903 posts)
1. I can see this for multiple potentially fatal gunshot wounds
Mon Jun 9, 2014, 06:04 PM
Jun 2014

and after the type of accident where paint scrapers are used. I doubt that patients who appear with a bump on the head and an uncomplicated fracture will be entered.

There are likely many times this will be lifesaving, stopping cell activity by keeping the body close to freezing will buy enough time for surgical repair of vital organs.

The question in all of this is what effect it will have on the brain. Animal studies have been promising but we're just a little more complicated than they are.

It's one of those "no matter what we do, he's not going to get deader" situations. As a last ditch emergency procedure without which the patient will certainly die, it doesn't require consent.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Health»A Chilling Medical Trial