Organs you can do without

Is it possible to live with one lung or one kidney?

Medical Daily News: 7 Body Parts You Can Live Without, From Stomachs To Penises

Different things happen in life – because of diseases and accidents, people have to amputate limbs or remove some organs. Scientists are creating artificial organs that can replace damaged or lost ones – tests of an artificial heart are already being conducted, the effectiveness of an artificial pancreas is being tested and attempts are being made to grow liver and lungs in the laboratory.

It seems that the removal of the appendix or tonsils has almost no negative impact on the lives of patients. And what can be said about the removal of a lung or kidney?

It turns out that the removal of one lung does not lead to a halving of the respiratory volume at all – usually this indicator decreases by only 20-30%. The remaining lung takes over the functions of the remote one and, provided that special exercises are performed, it quickly becomes able to compensate for the absence of a paired organ. Patients who have undergone lung removal may have difficulties performing actions associated with increased physical activity, however, as a rule, in ordinary life they do not experience breathing problems. One of the most serious side effects of pneumoectomy is the distortion of the body – the internal organs are displaced, the curvature of the spine develops.

One kidney (provided that it functions normally) is quite capable of coping with the filtration of all blood. Those who have undergone kidney removal, becoming, for example, a donor of this organ, recover fairly quickly and experience virtually no complications associated with removal.

So, in the summer of 2015, a whole "marathon" was held in San Francisco, in which 18 people took part – 9 donors and 9 recipients. A close relative of a patient who underwent a kidney transplant operation decided to become a recipient for other people waiting for a transplant. His act inspired other people as well – as a result, nine transplants were performed. Transplantologist Andrew Posselt stressed that donating one kidney does not harm the body of a healthy person in any way and this is "a completely safe act."

During gastrectomy, the functions of the removed stomach are taken over by a part of the small intestine. During such an operation, the intestines are sewn together with the esophagus. The patient is recommended to eat in small portions and take a number of supplements that promote digestion.

In some cases, gastric removal surgery is performed for preventive purposes – for example, if a person and his family members have a mutation associated with an aggressive form of cancer. Patients decide to agree to such an operation in order to minimize the occurrence of a tumor.

Specialists from the Mayo Clinic explain that splenectomy with a ruptured spleen significantly increases the patient's susceptibility to various infections. The risk of getting infected soon after surgery is especially high.

In order to reduce the risk of infections, doctors recommend that those who have undergone such an operation be vaccinated against pneumonia, influenza, meningococcal and hemophilic infections. The high-risk group includes children under five years of age and patients with reduced immunity.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru 10.11.2016