BBC: Viagra Used to Save Baby's Life

[WritersBlock]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/tyne/6366693.stm

Viagra has been used by doctors on Tyneside as a last resort to save the life of a premature baby.

Lewis Goodfellow was born at 24 weeks weighing just 1lb 8oz. One of his lungs had failed and not enough oxygen was able to get into his bloodstream.

<snip>


Alan Fenton, consultant neonatologist at the hospital, said: "The problem we see in premature babies with breathing difficulties is although we can blow oxygen into their lungs to help them, there isn't enough blood supply to various areas of the lungs to take the oxygen around the rest of the body.

"What Sildenafil does is open up the blood vessels so they can capture the oxygen and take it around the body."

Lewis was born in August 2006 and was finally allowed home in January, to the delight of his parents.

....

[truthisfreedom]

1. Wacky.

Good for the doctors. And for the kid and parents.

[Poll_Blind]

2. The boner wonder drug...now for kids! Well, I guess that's why...

...they're doctors. Whatever saves a life...Great story for the kid to tell about 20 years from now!

PB

[LiberalFighter]

6. I would hate to be that baby when he grows up.

I'm sure they will make fun about it. Better to keep quiet about it.

[cboy4]

3. Hmmm.....I thought the drug targeted/opened up only specific

blood vessels in the male body.

Interesting and great news!

[TrogL]

4. No, that's why they have warnings on the package

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. No, its main use now was originally just a side effect

From the related story on the BBC:

Original heart hope of Viagra realised

...
This is not altogether surprising given that Viagra was originally designed to lower blood pressure and treat angina.

It was during early testing that its developers noticed the drug aided the male erection - a curious and, as it turned out, very lucrative side effect.

Pfizer therefore decided to market it for erectile dysfunction, rather than as a heart drug, and after more safety tests Viagra was finally licensed as an impotence treatment in 1998.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/health/6367643.stm

It would have been interesting to watch the original trials - "notice any side effects, Mr. Smith?" "Well, now you mention it, doctor ..."

[AnneD]

5. When I first read this story....

I thought great-maybe they can use it in stroke pts to keep blood to the brain and keep brain function. After all, most guys lose their sense when the blood flows from their brain to the penis-maybe it can be reversed.....just joking guys.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. high tech version of niacin I guess.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. Whoa That's Awesome! What A Lesson In Creative Doctoring. Good For Him!

God bless the child and congrats to the parents!

:toast:

[BurtWorm]

10. I thought for a second I was in the Lounge

and this was a matcom news story.

:crazy:

[Skidmore]

11. LOL!!!

snort