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MADRID (AP) — Doctors in Spain have carried out the world’s first
double leg transplant, giving new lower limbs to a patient who lost
both legs at mid-thigh in an accident, officials said
Monday.
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The Valencia regional government said the surgical team was led by
Dr. Pedro Cavadas, who in 2009 carried out Spain’s first face
transplant – the first anywhere to include a new tongue and
jaw.
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The government statement said the operation at La Fe Hospital in
Valencia was extremely complex and Cavadas will wait at least 48
hours to release more information.
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“Today we can say a landmark has been reached,” said Dr. Rafael
Matesanz, director of the National Transplant
Organization.
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Another official at the organization, speaking on condition of
anonymity in line with departmental policy, said the operation
began Sunday night, and lasted about 13 or 14 hours.
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The official would not give details as to how the patient is doing,
other than to say if the limbs are rejected this will happen more
or less immediately. He added that it will be a month or so before
doctors know how successful the surgery has been.
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Doctors originally tried to give the patient artificial legs, but
the operation was unsuccessful as the patient had lost them so
high.
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The operation was approved in 2010 and since then doctors have been
waiting for legs to be donated.
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No information was given on the donor or the recipient.
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