For patients with lung disease in need of a full-lung transplant, time is of the absolute essence – as the average survival rate without surgery is only one to two years, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Although transplant patients do not have much time to wait, that is what many of them inevitably wind up doing. A critical shortage of organ donors leaves many of these patients without the vital organ they need, and a large portion of those on the waiting list simply do not get a new pair of lungs in time.
To combat this problem, researchers from Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia decided to think outside the box, in order to come up with ways of expanding the usable field of lung donors. Their research ultimately led them to the least likely candidates of all – heavy smokers.
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6 comments:
Just a way to make more money.
They spent years to get this way. Who cares? They didn't care when they were smoking and stinking the place up for non smokers to have to breath.
Joe,
Remember the article you published maybe 2 months back? It was about a young woman in England who, if I remember correctly, had cystic fybrosis. Recieved the lungs of a heavy smoker, and then was diagnosed with lung cancer. I know I read about it here on sbynews
I quit 3 years ago after 40 years at 2 packs a day. I'm still coughing up crap, but my lungs sound clear as a bell and are getting better every day, so putting a heavy smoker's lungs into a non smoker may extend a recovery, but could reap the same rewards!
Joe: Any idea how Chuck is doing after his lung surgery? Have'nt heard much about him since the fundraiser and his operation.
This is just like worrying about obese people who chose to sit around and eat too much,or alcoholics who made their own decision to drink.
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