Decapitated head can still be alive up to 10 seconds

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of whether a decapitated head can remain alive for a short period after separation from the body, exploring both theoretical and practical implications of head preservation and potential future advancements in this area.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant references an article suggesting that a decapitated head can remain alive for up to 10 seconds and questions the feasibility of keeping a human head alive in the future.
  • Another participant points to a previous discussion on similar topics, indicating that current technology does not allow for prolonged head preservation, but leaves open the possibility for future advancements.
  • One participant proposes that a head could be kept alive if brain function is halted through sedation and temperature reduction to about 35-40°F (1.7-4.4°C), referencing techniques used in medical procedures involving aortic arch replacement.
  • A later reply challenges the practicality of keeping a head alive post-decapitation, noting that the body would need to remain intact for effective perfusion and questioning the ability to reconnect nerves and vessels after decapitation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of keeping a decapitated head alive, with some suggesting it may be possible under specific conditions while others argue that current medical techniques do not support this idea. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

The discussion is limited by assumptions about the viability of head preservation techniques and the current state of medical technology regarding nerve and vessel reconnection after decapitation.

wolram
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In this article it states that, a decapitated head can still be alive up to 10
seconds from removal from the body, and in some cases the practice was
stoped on humane reasons, and that animal heads have been transplanted, the
article is from wiki so i guess it is well researched, in the light of this could a
human head be kept alive in the future ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beheading
 
Biology news on Phys.org
The head could be kept alive, if and only if the brain function is stopped by sedation and bringing the temperature to about 35-40°F (1.7-4.4°C) but perhaps higher. This technique is used when someone must be put in 'suspension' for about 1 hour in order to replace whole or part of the aortic arch.
 
Astronuc said:
The head could be kept alive, if and only if the brain function is stopped by sedation and bringing the temperature to about 35-40°F (1.7-4.4°C) but perhaps higher. This technique is used when someone must be put in 'suspension' for about 1 hour in order to replace whole or part of the aortic arch.

Possible, but in that case the body unit is still essentially intact (other than the thoracotomy) and don't they continue to perfuse with a heart/lung bypass? If decapitation has occurred we do not have the skill/techniques to re-connect all the nerves/vessels.
 

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