Circulation Aids

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  • Created by: Jo Wells
  • Created on: 18-04-13 21:26
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  • Circulation Aids
    • artificial blood can be used in an emergency
      • when someone loses a lot of blood, the heart can still pump blood round, so long as volume of blood is topped up
        • artificial blood is a substitute (e.g. a salt solution - 'saline') used to replace lost volume of blood
          • it is safe (so long as no air gets in) - can keep people alive if they lose 2/3 of their red blood cells
            • may give patient time to produce new blood cells - or will need a blood transfusion
      • ideally would replace the function of the red blood cells so that there's no need for a blood transfusion - being developed, but have side-effects
    • the heart can be repaired with artificial parts
      • artificial hearts
        • pump blood if heart fails
        • usually temporary - until a donor heart can be found
        • sometimes used as a permanent fix - reduce need for donor hearts
          • usually temporary - until a donor heart can be found
        • main advantage = not rejected by body's immune system
          • made of metal and plastic - body doesn't recognise them as 'foreign'
        • disadvantages
          • also don't work as well as normal hearts
            • parts could wear out or electrical monitor could fail
          • surgery to fit an artificial heart can lead to bleeding and infection
          • blood doesn't flow through as smoothly - could cause blood clots and lead to strokes
          • patient has to take drugs to thin their blood - make sure clots don't form - which can cause problems with bleeding if in an accident
    • stents keep arteries open
      • coronary heart disease is when the  the arteries that supply the muscle of the heart get blocked (by fatty deposits) - causes arteries to become narrow and blood flow is restricted = can cause heart attack
      • stents are tubes inserted inside arteries - keep them open to make sure blood can flow
      • are a way of lowing the risk of heart attack in someone with coronary heart disease
        • coronary heart disease is when the  the arteries that supply the muscle of the heart get blocked (by fatty deposits) - causes arteries to become narrow and blood flow is restricted = can cause heart attack
      • over time the artery can narrow again as stents irritate the artery and make scar tissue grow
      • patient has to take drugs to stop blood clotting on the stent

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