Scientists Notch a Big Win in ‘Butt-Breathing’
Stock photo. (Getty Images/Gratsias Adhi Hermawan)
A once-satirical scientific idea—popularly known as “butt-breathing”—has now passed its first human safety trial, marking an early step toward a potential breakthrough in respiratory medicine.
The method, officially called enteral ventilation, involves delivering oxygen through the lower intestine rather than the lungs. A new study published in the journal Med suggests this approach could one day help patients who struggle to breathe, including premature infants and those with severe respiratory failure.
The concept was inspired by certain animals—such as turtles and dragonfly nymphs—that can absorb oxygen through their hindquarters. Lead researcher Dr. Takanori Takebe and his team set out to determine if mammals might be capable of benefiting from a similar process.
In the trial, scientists used perfluorodecalin, a liquid that can store up to 50 times more oxygen than water. Twenty-seven healthy Japanese men received the substance rectally in what researchers described as an “enema-like procedure” and were asked to retain it for one hour. Most participants managed to do so, reporting only mild discomfort and bloating.
No serious side effects were observed, and the liquid itself wasn’t absorbed into the body. Importantly, this early phase didn’t yet include oxygen in the liquid—the goal was solely to confirm the method’s safety.
The next stage will involve testing oxygenated versions of the liquid on healthy volunteers before moving on to patients who have trouble breathing. If proven effective, this unusual yet promising technique could provide a simpler and less invasive alternative to mechanical ventilators—potentially saving lives in hospitals and regions with limited medical equipment.
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