Fight for life. Part 6, The final years.

Date:
2007
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About this work

Description

This is the last in a six-part series which uses cutting edge computer graphics and rare footage to show how the body fights for survival against the odds of trauma, illness and accident. This part focuses on how our bodies begin to fail during the final years of our lives. 60-year-old Geoffrey has four heart attacks, three of which happen in Casualty and are shown. We see him have surgery to insert a stent to cover over the blood clot blocking his artery - detailed footage is shown of the blood vessels and arteries of his body. 68-year-old Glenn has oesophageal cancer and has to undergo aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy before having surgery to remove his oesaphagus - all of these procedures are shown. The surgery is both complicated and dangerous and is shown in detail. Vera, 86-years-old, has been found at home lying in a pool of blood after falling and hitting the front of her head; doctors assess her for head injury and plaster her broken elbow. 83-year-old Len is admitted to hospital with severe abdominal pain and doctors suspect his bowel is being starved of oxygen due to ischemia. His condition is so severe that his chances of survival are tiny and the risk of surgery is too great. He is taken to a hospital ward where he is made comfortable and surrounded by his family as he dies.

Publication/Creation

UK : Channel 4, 2007.

Physical description

1 DVD (60 min.) : sound, color

Notes

Broadcast on 13 August, 2007

Copyright note

BBC1

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    3596D

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