About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Spain's Full Face Transplant Recipient Appears on TV

by VR Sreeraman on July 27, 2010 at 1:16 PM
Font : A-A+

 Spain's Full Face Transplant Recipient Appears on TV

A Spanish man who underwent the world's first full face transplant appeared before TV cameras on Monday for the first time since his surgery in March.

"Friends, I want to thank the hospital coordinators, the entire medical team, the family of the donor and most of all my family who are supporting me these days," said the 31-year-old, who was identified only as Oscar.

Advertisement

The man, speaking just before checking out of hospital, spoke with considerable difficulty and could not close his mouth and his face appeared swollen.

He reportedly suffered injuries in a shooting accident five years ago.

He wore a blue scarf which hid scars on his neck and his hair was combed foreward to hide scars on his forehead which doctors say will be fully concealed in the future.
Advertisement

A team of about 30 experts carried out the transplant on March 20 at Barcelona's Vall d'Hebron hospital on the man, who could not swallow, breath or talk normally due to his injuries from the accident.

During the 24-hour-long operation, he received new facial muscles, skin, nose, lips, a jaw, teeth, a palate and cheekbones, the leader of the medical team that carried out the procedure, Joan Pere Barret, told the news conference.

"Bit by bit he is improving but he nonetheless has a long and difficult road ahead to have intelligible speech like he had before," he added.

While 11 other face transplants have been carried out around the world previously, Barcelona's Vall d'Hebron hospital says they involved only part of the patient's face.

The first successful face transplant was performed in France in 2005 on Isabelle Dinoire, a 38-year-old woman who had been mauled by her dog.

Since then face transplants have been carried out in China, the United States and Spain, which carried out its first such operation in August 2009.

Spain led the world in organ donations in 2009 for the 18th consecutive year, according to the health ministry.

Source: AFP
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest General Health News

What Are the Consequences of Celebrities Endorsing Tobacco?
In India, youth must be aware of the diseases linked to cigarette smoking and tobacco consumption, causing a form of healthcare emergency.
 People Living Close to the Seaside Enjoy Better Health
Direct coastal access may represent a viable route to public health promotion, but the relationships of coastal living are not strongest among lower-income groups.
 Over Four Million Gardeners Place Their Hearing in Danger
New research by Tinnitus UK has found that over four million gardeners are putting their hearing capacity at risk this summer without using safety protection.
Breaking the Barrier: Unraveling Mucus Plugs to Save Lives in COPD
Mucus plugs could be targeted to help reduce fatalities from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
 Disease Modifying Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis Continue to Drive Up Healthcare Cost
The development of reliable curative therapies for multiple sclerosis could significantly reduce the economic burden of the disease on patients and wider society.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Spain's Full Face Transplant Recipient Appears on TV Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests