Two years after he performed the world’s first penis transplant‚ the urologist dubbed “Dr Dick” says his patient has ended up with the perfect package.
Writing in The Lancet‚ Professor André van der Merwe‚ of the University of Stellenbosch‚ said: “Penile transplantation restored normal physiological functions in this transplant recipient without major complications in the first 24 months.”
Van der Merwe and his team performed the nine-hour operation at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town in December 2014 but only announced it three months later‚ by which time the recipient had already discovered his new organ was in full working order.
He had to have his penis amputated in 2011‚ when he was 18‚ after a botched traditional circumcision led to gangrene.
In his Lancet “case report within 24 months of follow-up”‚ Van der Merwe said his team transplanted a penis from one cadaver to another as preparation‚ then recruited potential recipients for the pioneering op.
“We screened [them] for both physical and psychological characteristics‚ including penile stump length and emotional suitability for the procedure‚” he said.
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“A suitable donor became available and the penis was harvested. We surgically prepared the penile stump of the recipient and attached the penile graft.”
A week after surgery‚ the patient began taking a daily erectile dysfunction pill. “On post-operative day six‚ an infected haematoma and an area of proximal skin necrosis were surgically treated‚” said Van der Merwe.
“The recipient was discharged after one month and first reported satisfactory sexual intercourse one week later [despite advice to the contrary]. The recipient reported regular sexual intercourse from three months after the operation.”
An episode of acute kidney injury at seven months was reversed by reducing the dosage of immunosuppressant drugs‚ administered to lower the risk of organ rejection.
Two years after the op‚ the man’s urine flow rate and erectile function scores were normal. “Quality-of-life scores improved substantially‚” said Van der Merwe. His mental health score almost doubled and his physical health score increased by 60%.
The Sunday Times reported in December 2015 that the recipient and his wife had lost a baby at a late stage in the pregnancy
