Penis transplantation

Penis transplantation is a surgical transplant procedure in which a penis is transplanted to a patient. The penis may be an allograft from a human donor, or it may be grown artificially, though the latter is untested in humans. Peripheral transplant procedures such as hand, face, or penis transplant surgery are controversial because they are not necessary to ensure the life of the patient.

Allotransplant procedure

The first successful procedure was performed in September 2005, at a military hospital in Guangzhou, China. The patient, a 44-year-old male, had sustained the loss of most of his penis in an accident. The transplanted penis came from a brain-dead 22-year-old male. Although successful, the patient and his wife suffered psychological trauma as a result of the procedure, and later had the surgery reversed. [ [http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/060919_penis_surgery.html Penis Transplant Removed After Two Weeks] , LiveScience (Imaginova)]

Lab-grown penis

In 2006 researchers succeeded in replacing a rabbit's penis with one grown in a laboratory. [ [http://www.webmd.com/content/article/122/114808 Lab-Grown Replacement Penis in Future?] , WebMD] The penises were grown on a matrix from the rabbit's own cells, and contained nerves and blood vessels allowing them to become fully functional.

ee also

* Penectomy
* Phalloplasty

References

Organ transplantation