Monday, May 16, 2016

The first in the United States

A Massachusetts man received a penis transplant, the first in this country. There have been two other attempts:a failed one in China in 2006 and a successful one in South Africa in 2014, in which the recipient later fathered a child. The estimated cost was $50,000 to $75,000 and was assumed by the doctors and Mass General Hospital. The operation took 15 hours, 12 doctors and 30 helpers.

There are about 1,000 veterans who have suffered so-called genitourinary injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan. Nearly all were under 35 and had been hurt by homemade bombs, commonly called improvised explosive devices, or I.E.D.s. Some lost part or all of their penises. 

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