Enteral ventilation via anus: You can hold your breath

Okabe et al.1 present data from animal models of acute hypoxia showing that oxygen-carrying liquid applied to the distal gut improves oxygenation and prolongs survival. This opens the possibility of recruiting the distal gut to aid when mechanical ventilation of the lungs is inadequate. Okabe et al.1 present data from animal models of acute hypoxia showing that oxygen-carrying liquid applied to the distal gut improves oxygenation and prolongs survival. This opens the possibility of recruiting the distal gut to aid when mechanical ventilation of the lungs is inadequate.