Larynx Transplant: Candidates wanted

[Guest guest]

Larynx Transplant: Candidates Wanted

In 1998, the world's first successful larynx transplant was performed at The Cleveland Clinic. Three days after the operation, the patient, Heidler, said "Hello": his first word in almost twenty years. Today he sings in his church choir. Now, Cleveland Clinic otolaryngologist Marshall Strome, M.D. is looking for a patient who is willing to become the world's second recipient of a transplanted larynx.

Mr. Heidler, the 40-year-old recipient of the first transplant, had not been able to speak since a motorcycle accident 19 years earlier. During the course of the 12-hour operation, Dr. Strome and his team transplanted not only the donor larynx, but part of the trachea and pharynx. This restored Mr. Heidler's normal phonation and swallowing.

"At that time, we did not expect our first patient to recover phonation for weeks," says Dr. Strome. "However he progressed rapidly and was able to speak after three days."

Recently, Mr. Heidler demonstrated his new voice to a group of doctors at a medical meeting. He was asked "Would he do it again?" The response: "Not only would I do it again, but were it to reject, I'd be first in line for another organ."

To be considered as a candidate for a larynx transplant, the following criteria must be met:

You must be younger than 60 years old You must have no voice at all as a result of an accident, cancer, smoke inhalation or a benign tumor If you are a cancer patient, you must have been out of treatment for five or more years, with no radiation treatment or lymph node removal during your therapy You must live within a 14-hour travel time of the Cleveland Clinic It is preferable that you have no additional chronic health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol. (however, you can be on immunosuppressant drugs from another organ transplant.)

The Cleveland Clinic will cover the cost of the surgery and hospital stay. You, or your insurance company will be responsible for the costs of immunosuppressant drugs. These drugs will cost thousands of dollars a year. You will need to pay your own travel expenses.

Anyone interested in being considered for a larynx transplant should call Cleveland Clinic nurse practitioner Ross at 216/445-4082. There is no cost for an evaluation.

For more information, click here to go to the Transplant Center web site.

Know someone who could use this information?....send them this link.

Here are some related documents:

Larngeal Cancer

Rev. 7/15/01

© The Cleveland Clinic 2001 Our privacy policy

This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. For additional health information, please contact the Health Information Center at the Cleveland Clinic or toll-free extension 43771.

Rev. 2/01index#8784

[Guest guest]

,

Very interesting article, there were many articles in our local newspaper about this man and his surgery.

Hugs,

Sandy

Larynx Transplant: Candidates Wanted

In 1998, the world's first successful larynx transplant was performed at The Cleveland Clinic. Three days after the operation, the patient, Heidler, said "Hello": his first word in almost twenty years. Today he sings in his church choir. Now, Cleveland Clinic otolaryngologist Marshall Strome, M.D. is looking for a patient who is willing to become the world's second recipient of a transplanted larynx.

Mr. Heidler, the 40-year-old recipient of the first transplant, had not been able to speak since a motorcycle accident 19 years earlier. During the course of the 12-hour operation, Dr. Strome and his team transplanted not only the donor larynx, but part of the trachea and pharynx. This restored Mr. Heidler's normal phonation and swallowing.

"At that time, we did not expect our first patient to recover phonation for weeks," says Dr. Strome. "However he progressed rapidly and was able to speak after three days."

Recently, Mr. Heidler demonstrated his new voice to a group of doctors at a medical meeting. He was asked "Would he do it again?" The response: "Not only would I do it again, but were it to reject, I'd be first in line for another organ."

To be considered as a candidate for a larynx transplant, the following criteria must be met:

You must be younger than 60 years old You must have no voice at all as a result of an accident, cancer, smoke inhalation or a benign tumor If you are a cancer patient, you must have been out of treatment for five or more years, with no radiation treatment or lymph node removal during your therapy You must live within a 14-hour travel time of the Cleveland Clinic It is preferable that you have no additional chronic health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol. (however, you can be on immunosuppressant drugs from another organ transplant.)

The Cleveland Clinic will cover the cost of the surgery and hospital stay. You, or your insurance company will be responsible for the costs of immunosuppressant drugs. These drugs will cost thousands of dollars a year. You will need to pay your own travel expenses.

Anyone interested in being considered for a larynx transplant should call Cleveland Clinic nurse practitioner Ross at 216/445-4082. There is no cost for an evaluation.

For more information, click here to go to the Transplant Center web site.

Know someone who could use this information?....send them this link.

Here are some related documents:

Larngeal Cancer

Rev. 7/15/01

© The Cleveland Clinic 2001 Our privacy policy

This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. For additional health information, please contact the Health Information Center at the Cleveland Clinic or toll-free extension 43771.

Rev. 2/01index#8784DISCLAIMER!!WE ARE NOT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, THEREFORE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS RECEIVED HERE IS FROM EXPERIENCE ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING THAT IS SUGGESTED. WE ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR PHYSICIAN AND ARE NOT TRYING TO BE. REMEMBER EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND TREATMENT MAYBE DIFFERENT FOR MANY OF US. THANK YOU