Applied Approach
The last approach that I will discuss is the applied approach which is the analysis and practical problem solving of issues dealing with a certain disease. There are many problem associated with hypoplastic left heart syndrome from early detection being one of the most important. Because without early detection there is no diagnosis and if not caught in time it is fatal to the affected child. Another problem that has already been resolved was the first big hurdle, that originally it was thought that this condition was inoperable. Meaning they just sent the children home without trying to save them knowing that their condition was fatal. Thankfully with the development of the Norwood procedure that is no longer the case. With the three step process of reconstructing the heart patients that make it through the grueling procedures can live a somewhat normal life. With the development of the Norwood procedure it significantly reduced the mortality rates and increased the survival rates as the procedure was perfected, as evidenced by the charts above. But that leads us to the next problem, how long will their hearts last considering the right ventricle is not designed to pump blood to the whole body. This is one thing they are exploring at the Mayo Clinic, considering that over time the right ventricle might start to "decline in pumping ability". A
process that they are currently looking at to battle this problem is called regenerative strategies. This is basically using either a patents stem cells or someone else's to "rejuvenate
or regenerate defective tissues, leaving new, healthy tissues in their place." This way it could eliminate the need for transplants as individuals with lowering pumping capacity could simply use the stem cells to heal themselves. Below is a video explaining what regenerative stratagies is and hopes to acomplish from the Mayo Clinic. Another problem facing people with hypoplastic left heart syndrome is that not only is it not common it is not the same for everyone. What is meant by that is that every individual is completely unique in there situation for this condition, because every person has varying degrees of damage or underdevelopment to the left ventricle. So what might be ok for one
individual with HLHS could be very bad for another, this is why nothing about this condition is by the book or standard. Going forward even though there are problems still facing us with HLHS we are lightyears ahead of where we were just 25 years ago when children were just sent home to expire with their families. With new technology and research ongoing the future of children with HLHS is brighter now than ever.
process that they are currently looking at to battle this problem is called regenerative strategies. This is basically using either a patents stem cells or someone else's to "rejuvenate
or regenerate defective tissues, leaving new, healthy tissues in their place." This way it could eliminate the need for transplants as individuals with lowering pumping capacity could simply use the stem cells to heal themselves. Below is a video explaining what regenerative stratagies is and hopes to acomplish from the Mayo Clinic. Another problem facing people with hypoplastic left heart syndrome is that not only is it not common it is not the same for everyone. What is meant by that is that every individual is completely unique in there situation for this condition, because every person has varying degrees of damage or underdevelopment to the left ventricle. So what might be ok for one
individual with HLHS could be very bad for another, this is why nothing about this condition is by the book or standard. Going forward even though there are problems still facing us with HLHS we are lightyears ahead of where we were just 25 years ago when children were just sent home to expire with their families. With new technology and research ongoing the future of children with HLHS is brighter now than ever.
Bibliography
image: "Quality and Outcome Reports - Herma Heart Center" http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/39527/router.asp accessed August 15, 2013
image: "Fate of Infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Listed for Cardiac Transplant" http://www.jhltonline.org/article/S1053-2498(04)00089-0/abstract accessed August 14, 2013
image: "Regenerative Strategies" http://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/todd-karen-wanek-family-program-hypoplastic-left-heart-syndrome/regenerative-strategies/regenerative-strategies accessed August 15, 2013
"Mayo Clinic Regenerative Medicine Consult Service" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ9zuSraJtg#at=69 accessed August 15, 2013
image: "Quality and Outcome Reports - Herma Heart Center" http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/39527/router.asp accessed August 15, 2013
image: "Fate of Infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Listed for Cardiac Transplant" http://www.jhltonline.org/article/S1053-2498(04)00089-0/abstract accessed August 14, 2013
image: "Regenerative Strategies" http://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/todd-karen-wanek-family-program-hypoplastic-left-heart-syndrome/regenerative-strategies/regenerative-strategies accessed August 15, 2013
"Mayo Clinic Regenerative Medicine Consult Service" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ9zuSraJtg#at=69 accessed August 15, 2013