UK shows more safety means less transplants: Dr Stephen C Clark

KOCHI: He describes the scene both ill and well. Dr Stephen C Clark, heart transplant surgeon from the UK, says that the waiting list of patients for heart transplantation is increasing in UK as there are less numbers of cadaver organ donors. On the brighter side Dr Clark points out that this is because less number of youngsters is turning brain dead in road accidents. “With more people wearing seat belt, helmet and air bags in UK, the number of brain dead patients is coming down which is why there are less number of cadaver organ donors,” says Dr Clark.

Dr Clark who is in Kochi to attend the fourth meeting of Society for Heart Failure and Transplantation, said that donors were less for transplantation among children as well. “Fortunately cases are very low. More than 90 percent children are born with a healthy heart,” he says. “The heart transplanted in children grows as they grow and they can live up to the age of 40. There are many people who undergo a second heart transplant at this age and they can hope for a life for another five-ten years. But it is more risky,” he adds. Dr Clark added that Brexit can open more avenues for Indian professionals as those from other EU nations may not make it anymore.