Cardiovascular Disease: Artificial Hearts and Transplants (GCSE Biology)
Cardiovascular Disease: Artificial Hearts and Transplants
Heart Failure
Sometimes CHD can lead to heart failure, whereby the heart is unable to function properly and unable to pump enough blood around the body to meet the demands for oxygen. In this case, heart transplants can be used. There is more information on this below.
Treatment of Heart Failure
We will focus on the use of heart transplants for heart failure. Heart failure can be caused by many things, one of which is CHD. There are also other treatments for heart failure, but we will concentrate on heart transplants here.
Donor Transplants
Donor hearts can be used to be transplanted into those with heart failure. People often donate their heart after death, and we can transplant these into a person in an operation. However, suitable hearts are few and far between.
Artificial Transplants
Whilst awaiting transplantation, a patient may be fitted with an artificial heart. This is a man made device that temporarily pumps blood in the patient. This can give the heart time to rest or heal, or help the patient as they wait for a transplant.
When transplants are given, patients have to take immunosuppressants. These are drugs which suppress the immune system, therefore reducing the risk of an immune response against the transplanted heart. However,
if there is any infection from the surgery, then the immunosuppressants can make things worse by weakening the body’s natural defences.
Treatment of Faulty Valves
- Valves can become leaky and stiff. Infection, heart conditions and age can cause damage to the valves of the heart. This can make them more leaky, which can cause the back flow of blood. It can also make
them more stiff, stopping the valves from opening properly. - Valves can be replaced. When the valves are severely damaged, valves must be replaced. There are two types of replacement valves:
- Biological valves are made from humans or other animals such as cows or pigs.
- Mechanical valves on the other hand are man made. Surgery is required for valve replacement and carries risks of thrombosis or complication.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a term that describes a range of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels. It includes conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart attacks, angina, heart failure, and stroke.
CVD can be caused by several factors, including unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of the disease.
An artificial heart is a device that is designed to replace a failing heart and maintain blood flow throughout the body. It is a mechanical device that pumps blood in a similar way to a human heart.
The benefits of an artificial heart include improved quality of life, increased mobility and independence, and increased lifespan. Artificial hearts also provide a solution for patients who are waiting for a heart transplant.
Artificial hearts are typically used for people with end-stage heart failure who are not eligible for heart transplantation. The decision to implant an artificial heart is based on several factors, including the patient’s overall health and the severity of their heart disease.
A heart transplant is a surgical procedure where a failing heart is replaced with a healthy donor heart. The transplantation is performed by a team of heart specialists and can improve the patient’s quality of life and lifespan.
The eligibility for a heart transplant depends on several factors, including the severity of the heart disease, overall health of the patient, and availability of a suitable donor heart.
The risks associated with heart transplantation include rejection of the transplanted heart, infections, bleeding, and blood clots. Long-term side effects can also include medication side effects, heart transplant rejection, and the development of chronic diseases.
The lifespan of a heart transplant can vary, but with proper care and follow-up, many heart transplant recipients can live for many years post-transplant. However, it is important to note that individual results may vary.
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