title: Lessons learned from the world's first successful penis allotransplantation.
abstract: We performed a successful penis allotransplantation on 11 December 2014. Sharing the lessons learned might help more patients in need to be treated this way. We divided the project into manageable segments that was each overseen by an expert. The ethical review and conduct paved the way for a publically acceptable and successful project. Screening for a psychological stable recipient is important. The most difficult part of the project was finding a donor penis. This was successfully negotiated with the family of a brain dead donor by creating a neo-phallus for the donor, thereby maintaining the dignity of the donor. Working with transplant coordinators that are sympathetic to aphallic men is crucial. Surgeons versed in microvascular techniques is a critical part of the team. Transplant immunologists have to adapt to treat composite tissue transplantation patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. arvdm@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Andre van der
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2006-8331
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Merwe
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarrabi
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zühlke
authors.affiliation: Health Research Ethics, Division of Research Development and Support, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barsdorf
authors.affiliation: Division Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Rafique
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moosa
mesh_terms: D001926:Brain Death; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D000093667:Penile Transplantation