[wagglebee]

The study was inspired by the case of 53-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack and oxygen deprivation of the brain. In the course of a few days she slipped from consciousness to coma and then to a vegetative state. For the following thirty-one months she was receiving oxygen through a tube in her trachea.

But one day it was noticed that the oxygen in the tube was over thirty degrees below body temperature, due to an equipment setup that appears to be common in many hospitals and nursing homes. Acting on the speculation that such chilled air could not be good for the patient, the tube was removed. One month later, the woman came out of the vegetative state and was verbal and able to respond to questions.

And this was possible because she had a family doctors who wanted her to live.

[wagglebee]

Ping!

[wagglebee]

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[Fairview]

I can't believe it took us so long to figure this out. How could we have been so stupid for so long? How much loss has been caused because we didn't realize this?

[NonValueAdded]

The odds of recovery from brain injuries and vegetative states may be dramatically improved simply by restoring normal brain temperatures, according to a new medical theory published in the August issue of Medical Science Monitor.

You all know what that means.

[do the dhue]

The odds of recovery from brain injuries and vegetative states may be dramatically improved simply by restoring normal brain temperatures, according to a new medical theory published in the August issue of Medical Science Monitor

Alright then, I'll start gathering the liberals and you go get the ice.

[AmericaUnited]

Well, well, well, well, well!!! Some of us who were against 'terminating' people in these states, stated on reason was that medical discoveries might make them whole. And here we are.

[Popocatapetl]

Boyle's Law strikes again!

V1*P1/T1 = V2*P2/T2

[sig226]

I think that things like this do not help our cause. The story is worthwhile on its simple merits. Here is a person who came out of a coma after 31 months.

To formulate a theory based on one, uninvestigated case is wildly irresponsible. Any scientifically minded euthanasia supporter will observe that people breathe 60 degree air all the time. People climb Mount Everest using oxygen. Their brains do not shut down at 29,000 feet, -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

These guys are reaching with this one. They would do much better to argue that the woman recovered because her last name is not Schiavo.

[Lady Jag]

Why, then, don't they heat the oxygen?

I wonder what this means for longterm use of under-heated CPAPs.

[TheSarce]

Ping...

[politicalwit]

Garbage article....supplemental humidification and heat adjustment has been standard operational protocol for the admninistration of compressed gases on patients with trachs for the past thirty-five years or more. Sounds more like a poor long term care facility and improper airway management more than anything else. In all probability the reversal of her neurological state would have occurred with out without the tube removal.

[trisham]

Most health care facilities reported they do not heat the oxygen given to non-responsive, intubated patients.

*************

I'm rather surprised at this. It doesn't speak well of those caregivers.