Doctors set for first penis transplant in US

The 12-hour operation would involve stitching together of nerves and blood vessels and could restore urinary function


Afp December 08, 2015
The 12-hour operation would involve stitching together of nerves and blood vessels and could restore urinary function. PHOTO: IBN LIVE

WASHINGTON: Johns Hopkins University doctors are preparing for what would be the first US penis transplant, a procedure that could potentially help hundreds of wounded veterans.

A Johns Hopkins spokesperson confirmed a New York Times report that the first such operation was planned for a soldier who suffered genital injuries in a bomb blast in Afghanistan.

World's first penis transplant patient to father a child

The 12-hour operation would involve the stitching together of nerves and blood vessels and could restore urinary function and over time, the ability to have sex.

Because the procedure would restore only the penis and not the testes, the patient would not be able to have biological children, according to the report.

According to the Times, more than 1,367 soldiers suffered injury to their genitals between 2001 and 2013 in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Although the procedure is not required to save a life, doctors and Pentagon officials told the newspaper they believe it is worthwhile to deal with the psychological trauma suffered by the soldiers.

The university has been authorised to perform 60 of the experimental surgeries, with organs coming from deceased males whose families have given permission.

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Earlier this year, a South African man received the world's first successful penis transplant and reported later he was to become a father.

There was nothing preventing the South African patient from having children because his testicles, where sperm is produced, were not affected.

COMMENTS (4)

Jibran | 8 years ago | Reply I'm not a medical doctor, but I'm sure how the patient would be able to have sex without testicals. With reduced testosterone levels, the libido will be too low, and erectile dysfunction will be unavoidable. On the second thought, perhaps hormone replacement would work, which is needed anyways to avoid muscle loss.
SKN | 8 years ago | Reply @Waris: Relax buddy. They are not discussing what functions its going to perform. Its just a medical news that such operations might be possible soon.
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