VOA标准英语2012--Age One of Many Deciding Factors for Heart Transplants

Age One of Many Deciding Factors for Heart Transplants
Former U.S. Vice¹ President Dick Cheney continues his recovery after undergoing heart transplant surgery March 24 at the age of 71. The vice president's operation has sparked a public debate over whether a person Cheney's age is too old to get a heart transplant. Age is only one factor when doctors consider who should get a new heart.
Cheney has a history of heart problems. He had his first heart attack when he was only 37. He had four more over the course of three decades. His heart eventually became so diseased doctors replaced it with a mechanical heart pump about two years ago. Last year, he showed off the device to ABC News.
"A little over a year ago I was at end-stage heart failure. My heart wasn't pumping enough blood to service my kidneys and my liver and so forth," Cheney said.
Before a person can be eligible² for a heart transplant, he or she must be diagnosed with end-stage heart disease.
Dr. Samer Najjar, who oversees³ heart transplants at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, said a number of factors help doctors decide who gets a new heart.
"We look at every other organ system in the body," he said.
If those other organs are healthy, then doctors look at other factors.
"We want to know what the patient's compliance⁴ is, what kind of social support do they have, are they going to be taking medications on a regular basis, will they follow instructions? These are critical in heart transplantation," said Najjar.
At age 71, Cheney is among the oldest patients ever to get a new heart.
"Age is one factor, a very important factor, but not the only factor," Najjar said.
Najjar said older patients, in their mid-60s, have done well after a heart transplant. Almost 75 percent are still alive five years after the procedure and nearly half survive for 10 years after having a transplant.
If an older person's other organs function well, doctors consider a patient's physiological⁵ age as a greater factor than chronological⁶ age. The United Network for Organ Sharing manages the national transplant system for the U.S. government. It reports that the number of donor⁷ hearts going to senior citizens has been steadily⁸ rising for more than 20 years.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

3 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

4 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

5 physiological   

adj.生理学的，生理学上的

参考例句：

• He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
• Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。

6 chronological   

adj.按年月顺序排列的，年代学的

参考例句：

• The paintings are exhibited in chronological sequence.这些画是按创作的时间顺序展出的。
• Give me the dates in chronological order.把日期按年月顺序给我。

7 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。

8 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。