04-04-2006, 11:38 PM
jahcs,Apr 4 2006, 04:43 PM Wrote:As this technology progressess:
Would it be cheaper to grow a heart or do multiple bypass surgeries?
If someone is diabetic can they get a new pancreas?
What is unclear yet is the condition of the new organ grown - in the far future will it be possible to grow a heart from tissue in a 80 year old and grow a heart equivalent to when the patient was 20 year olds? Or is the new heart, albeit less clogged with cholesteral, still an 'old' heart?
Even further, can the organs be engineered to last longer and be stronger? Can they be used to extend human life much longer than naturally possible?
And as you mentioned, what is the cost of this procedure? Could this become the new 'luxury' surgery - get a new cholesterol free heart on your 50th birthday for a measely 5 figure number?
jahcs,Apr 4 2006, 04:43 PM Wrote:With the progress being made in gene therapy and the like I wonder if in the future they can correct some congenital defects?
Well, so far it has been used to correct one congential defect:
Quote:All the patients were born with a congenital defect, spina bifida, which is associated with poor bladders
As for this,
jahcs,Apr 4 2006, 04:43 PM Wrote:What about road trips? Can folks on long trips get an extra bladder? :P
:lol:
Cheers,
Munk