END OF THE BYPASS Heart transplants could be obsolete within 10 years — and replaced by artificial pumps and stem cell therapy
Professor Stephen Westaby said the revolutionary treatment could help thousands more people each year than transplants
By Nick McDermott, Health Editor
4th December 2017
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5060011/heart-transplants-could-be-obsolete-within-10-years/
HEART transplants could be replaced by pumps and stem cell therapy within a decade, a top surgeon believes.
Prof Stephen Westaby said one per cent of those needing swaps get them, but new methods will benefit thousands more.
The expert, speaking 50 years on from the world’s first transplant, asked: “How does society value a treatment that needs a young person to die first and applies to less than one per cent of those who might benefit?
“I think within ten years we won’t see any more heart transplants, except for people with congenital heart damage where only a new heart will do.”
Prof Westaby, of Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, added: “The combination of heart pumps and stem cells has the potential to be a good alternative and could help far more people.”
About 15,000 under-65s in Britain each year would benefit from a transplant, but only 150 organs become available.
Prof Westaby said heart transplants could be obsolete within 10 years as they help so little people
The British Heart Foundation says the waiting list has nearly trebled in a decade to 249 — caused by a rising population and families not releasing relatives’ organs.
The charity urged more potential donors to tell loved ones their wishes.
Eight in ten Brits back donation but half never mention it to families.
British Heart Foundation figures reveal the number of people waiting for a transplant has risen 162 per cent in a decade
Christiaan Barnard performed the first heart transplant in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1967.
Patient Louis Washkansky, 54, died of pneumonia 18 days later.
Professor Stephen Westaby said the revolutionary treatment could help thousands more people each year than transplants
By Nick McDermott, Health Editor
4th December 2017
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5060011/heart-transplants-could-be-obsolete-within-10-years/
HEART transplants could be replaced by pumps and stem cell therapy within a decade, a top surgeon believes.
Prof Stephen Westaby said one per cent of those needing swaps get them, but new methods will benefit thousands more.
The expert, speaking 50 years on from the world’s first transplant, asked: “How does society value a treatment that needs a young person to die first and applies to less than one per cent of those who might benefit?
“I think within ten years we won’t see any more heart transplants, except for people with congenital heart damage where only a new heart will do.”
Prof Westaby, of Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, added: “The combination of heart pumps and stem cells has the potential to be a good alternative and could help far more people.”
About 15,000 under-65s in Britain each year would benefit from a transplant, but only 150 organs become available.
Prof Westaby said heart transplants could be obsolete within 10 years as they help so little people
The British Heart Foundation says the waiting list has nearly trebled in a decade to 249 — caused by a rising population and families not releasing relatives’ organs.
The charity urged more potential donors to tell loved ones their wishes.
Eight in ten Brits back donation but half never mention it to families.
British Heart Foundation figures reveal the number of people waiting for a transplant has risen 162 per cent in a decade
Christiaan Barnard performed the first heart transplant in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1967.
Patient Louis Washkansky, 54, died of pneumonia 18 days later.