South Africa leads the way in penile transplants
Stellenbosch University team perform procedure
ASECOND successful penis transplant was performed by a Stellenbosch University medical team at the Tygerberg Hospital last month. During the nine-and-a-half hour operation, involving precise microsurgery, the donor organ from a 29-year-old man was attached to the 40-year-old recipient from the Northern Cape who lost his penis 17 years ago during a ritual circumcision in Khayelitsha.
Professor André van der Merwe, head of SU’s Division of Urology who described the recipient as being a “very happy man”, said when he came to them four years ago he was “very depressed and was on the point of committing suicide, but he hung in there”.
Dr Alexander Zuhlke, acting head of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, described the complex transplant of composite tissue where nerves, blood vessels and muscles are cross-connected between the recipient and donor organ as very challenging and unique to each case.
“All these structures need to be treated with the utmost delicacy and respect in order to be connected perfectly to ensure good circulation and function in the long term,” said Zuhlke.
Van der Merwe said they had been working with 12 candidates who were on the donor list, and these had dropped out, having lost hope. It is believed the other young men committed suicide.
With a lack of same skin colour donors, Van der Merwe said that even though the recipient had been psychologically prepared for the operation, every step was handled with sensitivity and when asked if he minded a different coloured organ, he said: “I will take it, doctor.”
The provincial health department funded the operation and medication, which amounted to less than R300 000.
Professor Rafique Moosa, head of the Department of Medicine, said the shortage of all organ donations was critical and he urged people to register to be donors.
“It might be easier to donate organs that you can’t see, like a kidney, than something like a hand or a penis.
“We are extremely grateful to the donor’s family who so generously gave not only the penis, but also the kidneys, skin and corneas of their beloved son.
“Through this donation they are changing the lives of many,” Van der Merwe said.