Oh yes! First successful penis transplant carried out!

The word ‘transplant’ has an important role to play in the world of medical science. Kidney transplant, heart transplant, bone marrow transplant all these words don’t just sound fancy but are li

By: Debjani Arora | | Published: March 14, 2015 3:13 pm

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The word ‘transplant’ has an important role to play in the world of medical science. Kidney transplant, heart transplant, bone marrow transplant all these words don’t just sound fancy but are life altering and saving surgeries. These surgeries have given a new lease of life to many. But no one had ever linked the term with the male sexual organ – the penis. But as they say, anything is possible in the world of science. A surgical team in South Africa reported the first ever successful penile transplant operation done on a 21-year-old who lost his penis in a botched circumcision. Here is why you should not allow your child to go for circumcision.

The reason this surgery stands to be one-of-its-kind because the success rate with penile transplant is very low. There had been attempt of such kind of surgery in the past in China. Even though the operation was a success the penis was rejected by the body. What makes a penile transplant more complicated is that it isn’t as life saving as say a heart transplant though it puts one’s life into danger in the OT. Here is all you need to know about the average penis size of Indian men.

In India the most complicated surgery related to the penis was done by Dr P.N. Dogra, head of the urology department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The surgery included insertion of penile implant, that is inflatable cylinders (placed inside the body) used to replace the spongy tissue inside the penis that fills with blood during an erection after a damage done to the penis. Read more about the surgery here.

Replacing the organ

The 21-year-old, who received a transplant, was 18 years old and sexually active when he had a circumcision done. In South Africa the procedure is part of the transition from boyhood to adulthood in several parts. Due to the botched procedure the boy was left with just 1cm of his original penis. According to the reports, numerous boys are maimed or die each year during traditional initiation ceremonies.

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.’ Doctors are hopeful that this boy will survive the procedure and have an active sex life like before as he has shown signs of recovery fast. Though full sensation of the organ 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.

The surgery

The surgery definitely involved a few risks: First, the patient has to be on a life-time of immunosuppressant drugs. Second, some patients cannot cope with a transplant if they fail to recognise it as part of their body. Also, putting one’s life at risk is futile as penis transplant unlike a heart transplant doesn’t expand one’s life span.

Van der Merwe said that their aim was for it to be fully functional in 2 years and Professor Frank Graewe, who assisted in the operation, added that the breakthrough has proved that the transplant was possible. It is believed that now nine more patients are to receive the penis transplant.

With inputs from ANI

Image source: Getty Images

Published : March 14, 2015 3:13 pm

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