|
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A year and a half after the first U.S. face transplant was performed, results appear successful.
As of July 2009, physicians report the victim of a gunshot wound who underwent a near-total face and upper jaw transplant at Cleveland Clinic in December of last year has experienced no surgical complications, has tolerated the immunosuppressive therapy required to prevent rejection and has made significant process in function.
Text Continues Below
Doctors say donor tissue appears to have successfully integrated with the patient's, and she has regained her senses of smell and taste.
Previous to the transplant, the patient had undergone 23 major reconstructive surgeries, but still lacked a structured nose and upper jaw. Surgeons transferred bone and ligaments to her face in such a way that the transplanted tissue could be supplied with blood only through facial arteries.
The patient is scheduled for an additional procedure to remove extra tissue after she regains function of the facial nerve.
Source: Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, November/December 2009
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Melissa Medalie at mmedalie@ivanhoe.com
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
|
.gif)
