Cancer Patient Receives First Penis Transplant In US
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Boston hospital says a cancer patient has received the first penis transplant in the United States.
Thomas Manning of Halifax, Massachusetts, received the transplanted penis in a 15-hour procedure last week, Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed.
Most of Manning's penis was removed during his battle with penile cancer, the New York Times first reported Monday. The organ was transplanted from a deceased donor.
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Doctors say Manning is recovering well from the delicate surgery. They say there are no signs of bleeding, rejection or infection, and that they're cautiously optimistic he will regain the function he lost in 2012 when cancer led to an amputation of the penis.
Dr. Curtis Cetrulo, who helped lead the surgical team, told the newspaper that normal urination should be possible for the 64-year-old Manning in a few weeks, with sexual function possible in weeks to months.
"We're all extremely proud of this accomplishment -- three and a half years in the making," Dr. Jay Austen, chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery, said during a press conference Monday. "It involved extensive research and close collaboration across our entire Mass General community."
Doctors are hoping that with the success of the transplant they'll be able to help more patients, including veterans.
"We're hopeful that with these successes going forward that we'll be able to open this up to other patient populations such as wounded warriors returning from Iraq, Afghanistan who suffer these incredibly devastating injuries," Cetrulo said.
Manning issued a statement Monday saying: "Today I begin a new chapter filled with personal hope and hope for others who have suffered genital injuries.''
The world's first successful penis transplant was performed in South Africa in December 2014.
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