This event was originally programmed to support the Heart exhibition, but due to its popularity it was repeated in the autumn of 2007.

Lucky audience members joined leading heart surgeon Francis Wells and his team while they performed an open-heart operation at Papworth Hospital. A two-way live television link allowed audience members to question the surgical team as they carried out the complex reconstruction of a heart valve.

During both evenings some of the equipment used in similar operations was passed around for people to inspect at close quarters with help from members of the Papworth medical team, on hand to answer questions. Audience members found out how the surgery they were witnessing would impact on the patient's life and discovered why preserving the natural heart valve - rather than replacing it with an artificial valve - allows the heart to function more efficiently.

In collaboration with 

 

 

 

 

Participants

Francis Wells, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Papworth Hospital

Facilitator

Samer Nashef, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Papworth Hospital

View BBC coverage of the November event

View 'Guardian' coverage of the November event