A new life-saving method has been devised to lengthen the time needed by doctors to perform lung transplants. Surgeons will be given double the time to perform each operation with the ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) in contrast to their typical six hours. The technique works to keep the lungs functioning, given that they are out of the human body for almost half a day, that is crucial to the recipient’s survival.
Getting the organs to the patients on time is a matter of life and death. Fortunately, the EVLP can push the organ delivery for over 12 hours to the operation. The EVLP ices the lungs and pumps liquid containing oxygen, essential nutrients, and proteins to preserve them. Although the EVLP has shown benefits in organ transfer, it is unknown as to how long a human lung can be out of a body before an operation.
Vocabulary:
Devise – [verb] to invent or plan
Crucial – [adjective] important or essential
Matter of life and death – [idiom] something that is gravely serious
Preserve – [verb] to keep safe from injury, harm or destruction
Benefits – [noun] something that promotes well-being
True or False:
- Ex-vivo lung perfusion is a method that prolongs the life of tissues inside the human body.
- This technique can keep the lungs functioning, even if the organs are already out of the donor’s body.
- The lungs are placed on ice to preserve them.
- EVLP is effective, especially when the lungs are still to be transported from one hospital to another quite distant hospital.
- It is unknown as to how long a human lung can be out of a body before an operation.
Defend your argument:
- Modern medicine has been improving all these years.
- Doctors behind these researches are considered geniuses of the modern era.
- Imagine that you were a doctor about to perform a crucial lung transplant. Explain how you would feel before and after the operation.
Express your opinion:
- What can you say about organ transplants in general?
- In any case, would you want to have a transplant when needed? Why or why not?
- Express your thoughts about this quote: “Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder