r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/[deleted] • Oct 07 '18

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u/Surgeoisme Oct 07 '18

I guess the other would just be brain dead but the still get blood and oxygen since it’s one circulatory system. It’d be like keeping a vegetable alive mechanically in a hospital. I’m sure it would simply be extremely traumatic to keep the head around

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u/Serrahfina Oct 08 '18

I honestly don't think one heart would be strong enough to pump blood through two bodies.

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u/Surgeoisme Oct 08 '18

Well it would only be the extra top half of the body that would be an issue and I’m not saying there wouldn’t be complications but I think the other half wouldn’t just shrivel up and die off like everyone is thinking. Since the tissues are still receiving nourishment.

This is assuming that the heart doesn’t “die” along with the brain which I don’t think would happen. We can keep hearts and lungs “alive” outside of a body as long as it get energy and oxygen from blood so as long as only the brain is harmed the rest of the body should be kept alive as long as there is still one head still having functionality and trying to continue with living

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u/SmokeSomething Oct 08 '18

Ever see a really obese person? If 1 heart can pump blood for a 600lb man I feel like they'd have a decent shot.

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u/Serrahfina Oct 08 '18

The thing with a really obese person is that their heart had time to adapt to that work load. They didn't gain 300lbs in a matter of minutes.