Surgeons from the University of
Stellenbosch (SU) and Tygerberg Hospital have performed the Surgeons from the
University of Stellenbosch (SU) and Tygerberg Hospital have performed the
world’s first successful penile transplant in a ground-breaking operation, said
the university in a statement on Friday.
The team of
surgeons, led by Prof André van der Merwe, head of SU’s Division of Urology,
performed the marathon nine-hour operation in December last year.
“South Africa
remains at the forefront of medical progress,” said Prof Jimmy Volmink, Dean of
SU’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). “This procedure is another
excellent example of how medical research, technical know-how and
patient-centred care can be combined in the quest to relieve human suffering.
It shows what can be achieved through effective partnerships between academic
institutions and government health services.”
Van der Merwe
was assisted by Prof Frank Graewe, head of the Division of Plastic
Reconstructive Surgery at SU FMHS, Prof Rafique Moosa, head of the FMHS
Department of Medicine, transplant coordinators, anaesthetists, theatre nurses,
a psychologist, an ethicist and other support staff.
The patient,
whose identity is being protected for ethical reasons, has made a full recovery
and has regained all function in the newly transplanted organ.
“Our goal was
that he would be fully functional at two years and we are very surprised by his
rapid recovery,” says Van der Merwe.
“It’s a
massive breakthrough. We’ve proved that it can be done – we can give someone an
organ that is just as good as the one that he had,” added Graewe. “It was a
privilege to be part of this first successful penis transplant in the world.”
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