Heart transplants

• What is the primary function of the circulatory system in humans?

  To transport substances and remove waste products
• What are the main components of the circulatory system?

  • Heart
  • Blood vessels
  • Blood
• What is heart failure?

  A condition where the heart fails to pump sufficient blood around the body
• What can coronary heart disease lead to?

  It can lead to heart failure
• What is oxygen's role in the body?

  It is needed by living organisms for respiration
• How does a consultant assess a patient's condition for a heart transplant?

  By evaluating the severity of the heart condition and other health factors
• How many heart transplants are carried out each year in the UK?

  Around 200 transplants
• What are artificial hearts used for?

  To keep patients alive while waiting for a transplant or to help a heart recover
• What are the post-transplant requirements for a patient?

  • Time to heal and recover
  • Lifelong use of immunosuppressant drugs
  • Increased risk of infection due to these drugs
• What is the purpose of immunosuppressant drugs after a heart transplant?

  To prevent the immune system from rejecting the donor heart
• What is a potential risk of taking immunosuppressant drugs?

  Increased risk of infection
• What factors are evaluated before recommending a heart transplant?

  • Severity of the heart condition
  • Other health factors
  • Risks and benefits of the transplant