The
world's first successful penis transplant has been reported by a surgical team
in South Africa.
The
21-year-old recipient, whose identify is being protected, lost his penis in a
botched circumcision.
Doctors
in Cape Town said the operation was a success and the patient was happy and
healthy.
The team
said there was extensive discussion about whether the operation, which is not
life-saving in the same way as a heart transplant, was ethical.
There
have been attempts before, including one in China. Accounts suggested the
operation went fine, but the penis was later rejected.
Penis
replacement
The man
was 18 and already sexually active when he had the circumcision.
The
procedure is part of the transition from boyhood to adulthood in parts of South
Africa.
These
boys are undergoing a circumcision ceremony in South Africa
The boy
was left with just 1cm of his original penis.
Doctors
say South Africa has some of the greatest need for penis transplants anywhere
in the world.
Dozens,
although some say hundreds, of boys are maimed or die each year during
traditional initiation ceremonies.
Long
Surgeons
at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital performed a nine-hour
operation to attach a donated penis.
One of
the surgeons, Andre Van der Merwe, who normally performs kidney transplants,
told the BBC News website: "This is definitely much more difficult, the
blood vessels are 1.5 mm wide. In the kidney it can be 1 cm."
The team
used some of the techniques that had been developed to perform the first face
transplants in order to connect the tiny blood vessels and nerves.
The
operation took place on 11 December last year. Three months later doctors say
the recovery has been rapid.
Full
sensation has not returned and doctors suggest this could take two years.
However,
the man is able to pass urine, have an erection, orgasm and ejaculate.
Preparation
The procedure
required a lot of preparation.
The team
needed to be sure the patient was aware of the risks of a life-time of
immunosuppressant drugs.
Also some
patients cannot cope with a transplant if they fail to recognise it as part of
their body.
"Psychologically,
we knew it would have a massive effect on the ego," said Dr Van der Merwe.
It took
"a hell of a lot of time" to get ethical approval, he added.
One of
the concerns is a heart transplant balances the risk of the operation against a
certain death, but a penis transplant would not extend life span.
Dr Van
der Merwe told the BBC: "You may say it doesn't save their life, but many
of these young men when they have penile amputations are ostracised,
stigmatised and take their own life.
"If
you don't have a penis you are essentially dead, if you give a penis back you
can bring them back to life."
Further attempts on other patients are expected
to take place in three GidiiHealth Provides you with authentic information about health in Lagos
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