The world's first successful peen transplant has
been done by a surgical team in South Africa. And
its lucky recipient is a 21-year-old man whose
identify is being protected.
BBC reports the man had lost his peen in a
botched circumcision. He was 18 and already
sexually active when he had the circumcision that
was part of the transition from boyhood to
adulthood in parts of South Africa. The boy was left
with just 1cm of his original peen.
He received his new peen from a deceased donor,
whose family were praised by doctors and
surgeons at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg
Hospital performed the nine-hour operation to
attach it.
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. He is 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.
Doctors say South Africa has some of the greatest
need for peen transplants anywhere in the world as
dozens, although some say hundreds, of boys are
maimed or die each year during traditional
initiation ceremonies. Further attempts on other
patients are expected to take place in three months
time.
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