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Mexican Man Undergoes Double-Arm Transplant
- Published_at:2013-11-28
- Category:News & Politics
- Channel:GNC Global News Channel
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- description: Two years after losing his arms to severe burns, a 53-year-old Mexican man is enjoying a new lease on life thanks to a rare double-arm transplant. Gabriel Granados arms were amputated just below the elbow after receiving a severe electrical shock. But in May 2012, nearly 20 medics, including five plastic surgeons, five nurses and three anaesthesiologists, performed a marathon 17-hour operation to attach two arms donated by a shooting victim. The operation was the first of its kind in Latin America with Granados having recovered the majority of movement in his arm from the operation following an extensive course of rehabilitation. "He has recovered about 70 percent (of movement) and is very independent. When he left the hospital he was completely dependent, daily activities such as getting dressed, having a bath, getting around required the assistance of family and therapy services. So, we started with a very passive treatment and currently the treatment is very active and he has recovered a lot," said head of rehabilitation at Mexico City's Nutrition Hospital, Rocio Cervantes. The rehabilitation process for Mexico's first-ever double-arm transplant has been long and gruelling one, between five to six hour daily sessions for at least two years to build up movement and reduce edema and stiffness. Some 18 months on from surgery, Granados' body has responded well to his arms. But plastic surgery specialist Martin Iglesias warned the body's immune system can still reject the newly transplanted limbs believing them to be foreign tissues. "Rejection will always exist, the probability of rejection will always exist because it is something tissue for him and his organism will always fight try to reject it. Therefore, he needs to take immune suppression which control, maintain a good state of health," said Iglesias. But doctors warn no matter how successful Granados' operation is, its future use may be limited due to the ever-decreasing numbers of donors. With Mexico's waiting list for organ transplants estimated to be at about 18,000, Granados is hoping his groundbreaking transplant will inspire many in the country to consider donating their organs. "There's a need to promote organ donations because many require an organ and they (hospitals) don't have them because we unfortunately don't have the culture of organ donation. I thought the same but today I would. This is the proof that it works," he said. Medics estimate that 71 patients worldwide have been the recipients of arm transplants with the majority of cases being in China.
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