sábado, 5 de enero de 2013

Leeds man receives Britain's first hand transplant - AFP

LONDON — A 51-year-old man from near Leeds has become the first person in Britain to receive a hand transplant, undergoing the eight hour-long surgery on December 27, doctors revealed on Friday.

Surgeons at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) carried out the pioneering procedure on Mark Cahill after a donor hand became available.

Cahill, from Halifax, had his non-functioning right hand removed and replaced with the donor hand all in one operation, allowing accurate restoration of nerve structures, surgeons said.

Consultant plastic surgeon Professor Simon Kay, who led the procedure, said: "This operation is the culmination of a great deal of planning and preparation over the last two years by a team including plastic surgery, transplant medicine and surgery, immunology, psychology, rehabilitation medicine, pharmacy and many other disciplines.

"The team was on standby from the end of November awaiting a suitable donor limb, and the call came just after Christmas.

"It was extremely challenging to be the first team in the UK to carry out such a procedure.

"It is still early days but indications are good and the patient is making good progress."

Cahill lost the use of his right hand due to gout, the hospital said.

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