Viet Duc Friendship Hospital completed Vietnam’s first penile transplant from a brain-dead donor on July 29, marking a major milestone in composite tissue allotransplantation for the country’s surgical system. According to hospital director Dr. Duong Duc Hung, the 43-year-old male recipient previously underwent a partial penectomy at the hospital’s Andrology Centre. After four years of stable recovery with preserved urinary function, the patient faced significant psychological and functional challenges due to the short remaining length of the organ.
Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Surgical Complexity
The transplantation followed a comprehensive clinical, immunological, psychological, and ethical assessment confirming the patient met all criteria for the procedure. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang, director of the Andrology Centre, stated that the operation required exceptional precision to reconstruct anatomical structures—including the urethra, corpus spongiosum, and corpora cavernosa—while performing microsurgical anastomosis on minute arteries, veins, and nerves.
Did you know? According to international medical literature, only five penile transplant cases have been published globally, with the most recent case reported in 2018.
Post-Operative Recovery and Long-Term Monitoring
Medical staff report that the patient’s surgical site is healing well with no early complications observed. Urinary function is under close watch, and the patient is currently responding positively to post-transplant care and anti-rejection medications. Because penile transplantation falls under composite tissue transplantation, doctors emphasize that assessing medium and long-term graft survival, sensation recovery, and erectile function requires extended time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the recipient of Vietnam’s first penile transplant?
The recipient is a 43-year-old male who previously underwent a partial penectomy and experienced functional and psychological difficulties due to the short remaining length of the organ.
How many penile transplants have been recorded globally?
According to international medical literature cited by Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, only five cases of penile transplantation have been published worldwide to date.
What medical specialties were involved in the procedure?
The surgery required coordination across multiple specialties, including organ transplantation, andrology, microsurgery, anesthesiology and resuscitation, immunology, and pathology.
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