Open–heart surgery is the most extreme method used to correct cardiovascular problems. Doctors open up the ribcage and operate directly on the heart, and maybe even replace it with a brand new model!

In the MOST extreme cases, doctors might decide that a person's heart just isn't going to work for much longer. In that case, they might do a whole heart transplant, replacing the diseased heart with one from a person who has recently died, or in some cases, a completely artificial heart, made from plastics and metal.

Click here to read more about Open–Heart Surgery, here to read about Heart Transplants, and here to see a movie of a real open–heart surgery! WOW!

You can even click here to find out how some scientists are making it possible for people to grow their own replacement heart or liver for transplant! DOUBLE WOW!