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Pigs And Rodents Can Breathe Through Their Rectums, So We Probably Can Too

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to place huge pressure on global health services, a shortage of ventilation devices has left many patients in danger of respiratory failure. However, new research reveals that mammals such as mice, rats, and pigs are in fact able to breathe through their intestines, suggesting that administering oxygen through the rectum may help to save the lives of humans suffering from respiratory issues.

It has long been known that certain aquatic species such as loaches and sea cucumbers are capable of taking in oxygen through their intestines in addition to their gills when faced with hypoxic conditions. Back in the 1950s and '60s, scientists conducted a number of experiments to determine if mammals shared this capability, yet results were inconclusive and the issue has remained a topic of debate ever since.

Appearing in the journal Med, a new study has finally settled the argument by providing evidence that mammals can indeed use their intestinal organs for respiration, and that doing so can significantly enhance survival and recovery rates following respiratory failure.