In a medical development that sounds like science fiction, researchers are seriously investigating whether humans can receive emergency oxygen through their backsides. The radical concept, informally dubbed 'butt breathing', is being explored as a potential life-saving measure for patients whose lungs are failing.
The Personal Inspiration Behind a Radical Idea
The brain behind this unconventional research is Dr Takanori Takebe. His motivation was deeply personal, sparked by witnessing his own father's difficult experience on a ventilator after contracting pneumonia. Dr Takebe was shocked by how invasive the process of hooking up a ventilator could be, reports Science News. This experience set him on a path to find a less intrusive alternative for delivering vital oxygen.
Takebe, from the University of Osaka and Cincinnati Children's Hospital, looked to the animal kingdom for inspiration. He noted that certain creatures, like loaches, can absorb oxygen through their skin, genitals, or intestines. He realised the human intestinal tract is also rich in blood vessels, which is why some medicines are administered via enema. He hypothesised that oxygen might travel the same path, moving from the intestines directly into the bloodstream.
From Mice to Men: The Path of the Research
To test his theory, Dr Takebe developed an enema-like procedure that introduces a special liquid saturated with oxygen into the rectum. Initial trials on mice and pigs, covered by the Daily Star, showed promise. This early, eyebrow-raising work even earned a 2024 Ig Nobel Prize, a humorous award for unusual science. Takebe accepted the prize wearing a loach hat, quipping: "Thank you so much for believing in the potential of the anus."
Undeterred by the award's cheeky nature, the research has progressed to human trials. In Japan, 27 men were given non-oxygenated enemas to establish how much liquid a person could tolerate over one hour. While some participants reported abdominal discomfort, bloating, and minor unease, most coped reasonably well. The next critical phase will determine if oxygenated liquid can successfully transfer its payload into the body.
A Potential Bridge in Critical Care
Experts stress that this method is not intended to replace traditional ventilators. Instead, rectal breathing could serve as a temporary, emergency supplement. Imagine its use during a tense ambulance journey or in the crucial minutes it takes to safely intubate a patient and connect them to a ventilator—a procedure where oxygen levels can plummet dangerously low.
Critical care pulmonologist Kevin Gibbs told Science News the idea "definitely raised my eyebrows." He added, "As someone who treats a lot of people who have low oxygen levels, I tend to think of myself as an above-the-waist doctor." However, he sees potential value. "What I find exciting is if this drug works ... maybe you can administer this, and then all of the sudden they have this real boost in oxygen for the time it takes you to safely put someone on life support - and that would be huge," Gibbs observed.
If it passes further clinical testing, this novel approach could provide a vital, if unconventional, bridge to stabilise patients in their most vulnerable moments.
