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At what point will become better not to trust your 90 year old heart and just use this instead? 25 year old heart vs this machine is no match...but a 90 year o
by maverick-iceman 5y ago
At what point will become better not to trust your 90 year old heart and just use this instead?
25 year old heart vs this machine is no match...but a 90 year old heart which could fail at any moment...maybe the swap is worth it.
- pomian 5y agoI've known some pretty healthy and active 90 year olds that could benefit. The problem might be, that if the young heart pumps to strongly, thin or weak blood vessels might start too leak under the higher pressure of a young heart. This happens when they give certain drugs to increase blood flow, on a weak heart, but then, for example, the eye blood vessels leak, causing macular degeneration. On the other hand perhaps a heart would be controlled by the body automatically whereas the body can't control a drug dose?
- pessimizer 5y agoThe only problem with that is that 90 year olds are often not good candidates for any serious surgery. You'll have a better chance with an old (otherwise un-notable) heart than with major heart surgery for a long time. If your heart is actually failing, fine, but then it has nothing to do with being 90 - you could be 25.
- siva7 5y agothat won’t happen for two reasons: at some point the cost of this procedure will exceed the quality and length of life expected and a 90 year won‘t be a candidate for heart transplantation anyway