Table 1.

Potential clinical applications of oxygen carrying solutions

1. Therapy

(a) Blood substitutes : hemorrhagic shock; hemorrhage (war, surgery); anaemia.

(b) Whole-body rinse out : acute drug intoxication; acute hepatic failure.

(c) Local ischemia : acute MI; evolving MI; cardiac failure; brain infarction; acute arterial thrombosis and embolism; PTCA of coronary artery.

(d) General ischemia : gas embolism; CO intoxication; HAPO;  HACO.

(e) Aid for organ recovery : acute renal failure; acute hepatic failure; acute pancreatitis.

(f) Infectious disease : anaerobic and aerobic diseaes;

(g) Adjuvant therapy : tumour radiotherapy; chemotherapy

2. Perfusional protection of organs during surgery – cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermia, circulatory arrest, cardioplegia.

3. Preservation of donor organ.

4. Drug carrier – drug-conjugated haemoglobin and perfluorochemicals.

5. Contrast agent – (Perfluoro-octylbromide)

Non-Clinical Applications

1. Culture medium

2. Chemical examination – oxygen sensor; standard solution for oxygen calibrator

3. Bioreactor

Paradoxical Utilisations (of high-oxygen affinity)

1. Oxygen absorbent

2. Oxygen pulse therapy for malignant tumour in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.