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First Penis Transplant In U.S. Performed at Mass. General Hospital
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At Massachusetts General Hospital Monday, a team of doctors announced that they've performed the first penis transplant in the U.S.
The patient, Thomas Manning, is a 64-year-old bank courier from Halifax, Massachusetts. The experimental surgery — using an organ from a deceased donor — lasted 15 hours.
Urologic oncologist Dr. Adam Feldman, who was at the MGH news conference, has been treating Manning since his penile cancer diagnosis in 2012. He performed the partial penectomy that saved Manning's life, but left him with an inch-long stump where his penis had been.
"He's a remarkable individual who coped very well with his diagnosis," said Dr. Feldman. "But, certainly felt the loss after his surgery, which was what's called a partial penectomy. He's really an incredible person that, after that surgery, totally unprovoked, said, 'Doc, if I can have a penile transplant, I'm your patient.' And it was really amazing."
So, what does this surgery mean for the future of transplants?
Guests
Carey Goldberg,, editor of WBUR's CommonHealth blog. She tweets @commonhealth.
Dr. Curtis Cetrulo, plastic and reconstructive surgeon at MGH, he led the surgical team for Thomas Manning's penis transplant, the first in the U.S.
More
CommonHealth: Cancer Patient Receives Nation's First Penis Transplant At MGH
"The operation at Mass. General took place overnight on May 8, and lasted more than 15 hours in total. The organ came from a deceased anonymous donor whose family gave special permission for the transplant."
The New York Times: Man Receives First Penis Transplant In The United States
- "A man whose penis was removed because of cancer has received the first penis transplant in the United States, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston."
JAMA: U.S. Hospitals Prepare For Penis Transplants
- "Stories of service members who have lost limbs or suffered traumatic brain injuries as a result of blast injuries in Afghanistan or Iraq often make headlines, but another devastating consequence of these blasts is rarely discussed."
Popular Science: How Does A Penis Transplant Work?
- "Soldiers give up a lot when they’re defending their country. For those who fall victim to snipers and explosives, and who survive, that could mean losing a limb or an organ or their sight. An often unspoken injury is the loss of genitalia."
This segment aired on May 16, 2016.