SUSPENDED ANIMATION: NOT JUST IN THE MOVIES

Laser beams, rocket-ships, robots, space travel all got their start in movies and comics.  Movies have always been forward thinking when it comes to science and have been a very good prognosticator of future events and technologies.  Well, another movie inspired technology - the concept of suspended animation - is now a reality.

From '2001-A Space Odyssey' to 'Aliens', to 'Stars Wars' the notion of suspending human life in a coma like state and then reviving it at a later time to normal function has been a staple in sci-fi films for decades.  This month, that fantasy, will become a reality at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. when 10 patients will be placed in suspended animation - not for space travel but to save their lives.

The suspended animation process will be used on patients where their wounds would otherwise be lethal in an attempt to buy surgeons time.  The process works just like in the movies - by cooling the body. But in this case not externally by internally.  All of the patient's blood is removed and replaced by a cold saline solution.  This cools the body, slowing its functions to virtual halt and reducing the need for oxygen - referred to as 'hypothermic hibernation'

"We are suspending life, but we don't like to call it suspended animation because it sounds like science fiction", says Dr. Samuel Tisherman, the surgeon who will lead the experiment, "so we call it 'emergency' preservation and resuscitation."

Only to be used in emergency situations where an individual has suffered cardiac arrest after a severe injury, the process is not at the sci-fi level yet - as a human body can only be safely placed 'under' for a few hours max.  But even this is a huge step forward. Hooray for Hollywood!

Best
Jim