Editing Suspended animation (section)

{{Short description|Slowing or stopping of life without death}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Cleanup|reason=the article has problems with clarity, grammar, spacing, punctuation and tone.|date=June 2017}}
[[File:Intrahospital CPR.jpg|thumb|Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) being performed on a trauma patient in a hospital of [[Maracay]], Venezuela. Like CPR, suspended animation could delay the onset of cell  death (necrosis) in seriously injured or ill patients, providing them with more time to receive definitive medical treatment.]]

'''Suspended animation''' is the slowing or stopping of biological function so that physiological capabilities are preserved. States of suspended animation are common in micro-organisms and some plant tissue, such as seeds. Many animals, including large ones, may undergo [[hibernation]], and most plants have periods of [[dormancy]]. This article focuses primarily on the potential of large animals, especially humans, to undergo suspended animation.

In animals, suspended animation may be either hypometabolic or ametabolic in nature. It may be induced by either endogenous, natural or artificial biological, chemical or physical means. In its natural form, it may be spontaneously reversible as in the case of species demonstrating hypometabolic states of [[hibernation]]. When applied with therapeutic intent, as in [[deep hypothermic circulatory arrest]] (DHCA), usually technologically mediated revival is required.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/suspended+animation| title=Suspended Animation |publisher=Medical-Dictionary.thefreedictionary.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|pmc=4060059| title=Is pharmacological, H2S-induced 'suspended animation' feasible in the ICU?|journal=Crit Care|volume=18|issue=2|page=215|date=2014|doi=10.1186/cc13782| last1=Asfar| first1=P| last2=Calzia| first2=E| last3=Radermacher| first3=P| pmid=25028804| doi-access=free}}</ref>