What tissue can be harvested from the body after cardiac death?

When considering the options for tissues that can be harvested after cardiac death, it is essential to understand the context of organ and tissue donation.

After a person has suffered cardiac death, both hard and soft tissues can be preserved and used for transplantation. Bones can be harvested for orthopedic procedures, treating fractures, or spinal fusions. Heart valves, on the other hand, can also be retrieved and used in various cardiac procedures to replace damaged valves in living patients suffering from valvular heart diseases. Skin is equally valuable; it can be harvested for grafting in burn victims or those with extensive skin loss, facilitating healing and reducing infection risks.

Given this understanding, selecting "all of the above" is appropriate because it acknowledges that multiple types of tissue, including bones, heart valves, and skin, can indeed be harvested and utilized in medical treatments following cardiac death. Each type of tissue has its own specific applications and contributes significantly to transplant medicine, making them collectively important.