The First Partial Face Transplant
After Mutilation
Procedure Background
- 8-10 hours of surgery, 10-14 days
- Donor: Brain-dead patient (could have also been cadaver)
- Face molds to facial skeleton
- Drugs prevent rejection/grafting
Conference in France
Isabelle Dinoire
The Surgery
- Triangle of face taken from donor
- Grafted to patient
- Grafting: moving tissue from one site to another, w/o blood supply
- Patch on chest
- France: November 27, 2005
- Dog mutilated her face
- Nose, lips, chin, cheeks
Post Surgery
- Surgeons chose patient most likely to benefit
- Complications:
- Kidney Failure
- 2 rejection episodes (1 month, 1 year)
Immunosuppressant Regimen
Rejection
- Repress immune system
- Help fight tissue rejection
- Side effects:
- Weak immune system
- Kidney Failure
- Required for Life
- Skin has HLA antigens and alleles
- Identical twins have same HLA antigens
- New skin may be considered foreign, immune system attacts
- T lymphocytes
- Sloughs and discolors
Controversy
The New Face
- Happy with results
- No mask anymore
- Not her face
- Can smile again
- Full facial sensitivity
New Doors
- 2006: China, bear, partial
- 2007: France, tumor, partial
- 2010: Spain, shooting, first full
- 2010: France, first full with tear ducts and eyelids
Risks
- Rejection
- Life Expectancy
- Availability
- Psychological Issues