NEWS - Woman has double hand transplant

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Woman has double hand transplant

BBC News

Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 11:56 GMT

By Danny Wood

A Spaniard has become the first woman in the world to receive a double

hand transplant.

A team of surgeons at Hospital La Fe in Valencia carried out the

pioneering operation.

After 10 hours in the operating theatre, doctors say Alba, 47, from

Castellón, whose full name has not been released, is recuperating well.

The woman faced the press this week, and looked happy and content

despite heavy bandages on her hands.

Alba said after waking up from the anaesthetic and seeing her new

hands for the first time, she thought: " They look beautiful! "

The operation took place on 30 November after an appropriate donor of

the same sex, race and blood group was found.

In this case it was a woman who was declared brain dead following an

accident.

The donor's arms were removed from above the elbow, and the severed

limbs were cooled and transported to Hospital La Fe in less than five hours.

A team of more than 10 medical professionals, including surgeons and

anaesthetists, then worked to attach them to Alba's arms.

Arms matched

Both transplants were carried out simultaneously.

First, Alba's forearms had to be adjusted to match the size of the

donor limbs.

Bones were fixed with metal plates and screws, and microscopic surgery

was used to attached the arteries, veins and nerves.

Alba had both her original hands amputated after an explosion in a

laboratory where she was studying chemistry nearly 30 years ago.

Pedro Cavadas, the lead surgeon, said she should have sensitivity and

movement in her new hands within five to six months.

Mr Cavadas has told the Spanish press that the intention of the

surgery was to allow Alba to lead an independent and normal life with two

useful hands.

He admitted that it was difficult to know exactly how much use Alba

will be able to make of her hands.

But he added: " In any case this is much better than any prosthesis. "

Six double-handed transplants have been carried out on men. The first

was carried out on a 33-year-old man in France in 2000.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6171809.stm

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