Resuscitation fluid

1. A lipid based resuscitation fluid, comprising:

an oxygenated lipid emulsion; and

a buffering agent

wherein said lipid emulsion comprises a lipid component and an aqueous carrier, wherein said lipid component forms the emulsion with said aqueous carrier in the form of lipid micelles with a polar outer surface and an inner hydrophobic space.

2. The resuscitation fluid of claim 1 , further comprising a plasma component.

3. The resuscitation fluid of claim 1 , wherein said lipid emulsion comprises 20% (w/v) purified soybean oil, 1.2% (w/v) purified egg phospholipids, and 22% (w/v) glycerol anhydrous, and wherein said plasma component is approximately 5% (w/v) albumin.

4. The resuscitation fluid of claim 1 , wherein the buffering agent comprises histidine.

5. The resuscitation fluid of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of oncotic agents, crystalloid agents, buffering agents, carbohydrates, salts, vitamins, antibodies, and surfactants.

6. The resuscitation fluid of claim 1 , further comprising histidine at a concentration of between 0.01M to 0.2M.

7. The resuscitation fluid of claim 1 , further comprising hydrogen sulfide or carbon monoxide.

8. The resuscitation fluid of claim 1 , wherein the total oxygen contained in the lipid emulsion is greater than that present in the same liquid at atmospheric equilibrium conditions.

9. A method for preserving the biological integrity of an organ of a mammalian donor organism, comprising:

perfusing said organ with an effective amount of the lipid based resuscitation fluid of claim 1 .

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

oxygenating the lipid based resuscitation fluid prior to perfusion.