Doctors at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have tested a technique in which pigs are brought to a suspended animation state and were successfully revived them 90% of the time. Now, the team is applying for permission to induce hypothermia in humans, causing the heart to stop beating and the cessation of all brain activity, in the hopes their technique will improve survival rates for those seriously injured by acts of violence.

The process involves pumping an organ-sustaining cold saline solution into the patient's bloodstream, reducing body temperature from 98 degrees F (37 C) to 50 degrees F (10 C). Blood lost during this period is stored and kept warm while a doctor can operate on the patient for upto two hours. Whereas the brain dies within five minutes of not receiving blood at 98 degrees F, it can survive from anywhere inbetween 90 and 120 minutes in a hypothermic state.

In tests with pigs, the brain and heart started functioning again once their blood was returned. The research team simulated gunshot wounds by cutting arteries to cause massive blood loss. If they receive approval to test this procedure in humans, it would be administered to patients likely to die if conventional treatments are applied.

Via (SMH)