These are the artificial wombs that are being developed for extremely premature babies

The development of health technology is already making progress in the area of ​​birth rates around the world. Although there is some misgivings about these developments, The artificial uterus is becoming established as an alternative for carrying life outside the mother’s womb in the case of extremely premature birth.

(Read: Do you practice it? This is the ancient exercise that can improve your cardiovascular health)

Scientists and researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania are proposing to develop this womb-like device for babies. who suffer from extreme risk of premature birth.

It is worth noting that This development is not intended to carry babies from conception to birth, but rather its goal is to increase the survival rate for those extremely premature, who face a range of lifelong effects.

(See more: White House confirms Joe Biden tested positive for covid-19)

Nowadays, thanks to the evolution of medicine, most premature babies manage to survive, in fact, A BBC investigation claims that 30% of newborns at 22 weeks gestation survive if they receive intensive care.

It is inferred that the idea of ​​artificial wombs and placentas seeks to ensure that babies’ lungs do not come into play, since, even Current technology designed to save lives can harm this organ in children.

(Read: What is the link between hormone therapy for breast cancer and Alzheimer’s?)

How is the investigation going?

The scientists of this hospital They plan to immerse premature babies in liquid-filled capsules designed to mimic the amniotic fluid in the womb. After this, surgeons, led by fetal surgeon Alan Flake, would connect the tiny blood vessels in the baby’s umbilical cord to an Ecmo-like device.

(See: How often should you defecate? Frequency could be key to your health)

ECMO is an existing therapy used as an artificial life support to help people whose lungs and hearts are not functioning properly. There, blood is pumped out of the patient’s body to a machine that removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen. The oxygenated blood is then returned to the body’s tissues.

However, Surgeons have already tested the artificial womb on lambs, which are the equivalent age to human fetuses, between 23 and 24 weeks. and kept them alive for the next four weeks. During that time, the baby animals appeared to develop normally.

(Read also: Petro’s ministers to be investigated for anomalies in the new teacher health system)

Premature babies

iStock

According to the BBC, George Mychaliska’s team at the University of Michigan, is developing what they call an artificial placenta. This device proposes that instead of immersing the fetus in liquid, breathing tubes be connected to it to fill the baby’s lungs with special liquids.

(See: A glass a day: what are the health effects of regular wine consumption?)

So, Your system drains blood from the heart through the jugular vein, similar to traditional Ecmo machines, but returns oxygenated blood through the umbilical vein.

Mychaliska told the BBC that “The technology is not intended to replace the myriad functions of the placenta. It focuses on gas exchange and maintaining fetal blood pressure, heart rate and circulation while premature organs are protected and continue to develop.“.

(Read more: Asinfar says Colombia needs a pharmaceutical industrialization policy)