World’s first penis and scrotum transplant performed in US – PHOTOS
A team of reconstructive surgeons at Johns Hopkins Hospital last month performed the world’s first penis and scrotum transplant to repair a US military veteran’s battle wounds sustained in Afghanistan.
Nine plastic surgeons and two urological surgeons performed the 14-hour surgery on March 26, transplanting the entire penis, scrotum (without testicles), and partial abdominal wall from a deceased donor.
According to USA Today, the surgeons also connected three arteries, four veins, and two nerves to provide blood flow and sensation.
The team said it used a penis, scrotum and partial abdominal wall transplanted from a deceased donor and are confident that the soldier will regain sexual function, which is impossible with penis reconstructions.
SEXUAL FUNCTIONS
“We are hopeful that this transplant will help restore near-normal urinary and sexual functions for this young man,” said Professor W. P. Andrew Lee in a statement.
“It’s a real mind-boggling injury to suffer, it is not an easy one to accept,” said the recipient, who chooses to remain anonymous.
“When I first woke up, I felt finally more normal… [with] a level of confidence as well. Confidence… like finally I’m okay now.”
Dr Lee called genitalia wounds an “unspoken injury of war”.
“In a 2014 symposium co-sponsored by Johns Hopkins titled ‘Intimacy After Injury’, we heard from the spouses, families, and caregivers of these wounded warriors about the devastating impact of genitourinary injuries on their identity, self-esteem and intimate relationships,” he said.
HIDDEN BOMB
His injury resulted after he stepped on a hidden bomb in Afghanistan and experts said they expect he will be fully recovered between six to 12 months.
“It is our hope that such a life enhancing transplant will allow him to regain urinary and sexual function and lead a more normal life.It is also our goal to offer the procedure in the future to other suitable patients, “Dr Rick Redett, clinical director of the genitourinary transplant programme said.
The world’s first successful penis transplant took place in South Africa in 2015. The recipient, the victim of a botched circumcision, later went on to father a child.
The first successful penis transplant in the US occurred in 2016, at Massachusetts General Hospital. The procedure took 15 hours and involved more than 50 doctors from multiple different departments.