face transplants!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

i was reading W, which is a women's fashion magazine, and there was an article about plastic surgery. It was mentioned that doctors at the University of Louisville (Kentucky) have submitted papers seeking approval from the ethics committee to perform a face transplant. So I did a search of my computer and found info on it, but too busy to read it all right now. Anyway, I am more curious about what other people think and feel about this. The article I am putting a link to mentions they've already successfully transplanted hands from cadavers. I had no idea!--- I feel like I must be so out of touch. Anyway, here is the link. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5122174. :uhoh3:

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i was reading W, which is a women's fashion magazine, and there was an article about plastic surgery. It was mentioned that doctors at the University of Louisville (Kentucky) have submitted papers seeking approval from the ethics committee to perform a face transplant. So I did a search of my computer and found info on it, but too busy to read it all right now. Anyway, I am more curious about what other people think and feel about this. The article I am putting a link to mentions they've already successfully transplanted hands from cadavers. I had no idea!--- I feel like I must be so out of touch. Anyway, here is the link. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5122174. :uhoh3:

There was a show on one of the medical programs the other night, it has already been done. I believe that it was in India or Pakistan about 10 years ago, the patient is actually in nursing school right now in her country. The girl's face was torn off in an accident and was essentially reattached, just like you would reconnect a finger or hand.

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

I saw part of that - it was on TLC. Very interesting!

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Specializes in ICU.

There was a very good article in New Scientist about this. Unfortunately the patient will have only limited control of expression and may not ever have full feeling again but it is possible. They will also be on immunosuppressives for the rest of their lives because of rejection. It is only being considered for severe burns at present.

Interestingly the final face will not look like the donor as the look is very much influenced by the underlying structure.

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Really all a face transplant would be is a large-area skin graft.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Hi- I work at U of L Hospital. I'll keep you posted when we get some of these patients. I haven't seen any yet...I think it's still in the approval stage. Jewish Hospital here (in conjunction with the U of L Medical School) has been transplanting hands for a while.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

The Cleveland Clinic has permission to start already. It is basically a skin and fat transplant from a cadaver...the person that receives the transplant won't take on the look of the donor at all. They are looking to use it on burn patients :)

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Specializes in Inpatient Acute Rehab.

OMG!!!! Now I've heard everything!!! :chuckle

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I think it's incredible.

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