Lessons learned from the world's first successful penis allotransplantation

Future directions in transmasculine genital gender-affirming surgery: tissue substitutes and transplant

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The present study reviews contemporary literature focused on transplantation and tissue substitutes for the purposes of masculinizing genital gender affirming surgery. Additional background is provided for both topics to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the modern applications.

RECENT FINDINGS

Genitourinary vascularized composite allotransplantation has become a reality in recent years with several cases reported worldwide in cisgender men with promising reports of urinary and sexual function. A natural extension might be to apply these techniques to gender affirming surgery (GAS). Technical barriers include anatomic differences between vasculature supporting penoscrotal and vulvovaginal anatomy as well as size discrepancies between the corporal bodies which complicate the required anastomoses. Whether the smaller caliber of biologic female pelvic vasculature can support erection of a neophallus is another obstacle. Ethically, resource allocation, elective immunosuppression, society response to organ donation and gender identity, as well as the psychosocial safety of the patient given charged public opinion must all be considered.Tissue substitutes have long been used in urologic reconstruction but more recently applied to masculinizing gender affirmation surgery which has traditionally relied on autografting. The focus has been on restoring form and function to the donor site as well as facilitating treatment of urethral stricture and wound complications after phalloplasty. Furthermore, aesthetic applications have also been described, most recently for glans atrophy.

SUMMARY

The field of masculinizing gender affirmation surgery represents an exciting frontier for surgeons and patients alike. Given the relative nascency of the specialty and its propensity to draw techniques from various surgical disciplines there exists a unique opportunity for rapid innovation to overcome challenging problems posed by these complex procedures as evidenced by discussions around applying penile transplantation and the use of novel tissue grafting techniques.

Modified Surgical Model for Genitourinary Vascularized Composite Allotransplantations: An Anatomical Study

SUMMARY

Total penile reconstruction represents a surgical challenge. Autologous reconstructions offer limited aesthetic results and variable urinary function recovery. To date, five genitourinary vascularized composite allotransplantations have been performed worldwide. However, in all cases, vascular complications have been reported. The objective of this study was to develop a modified surgical model for penile allotransplantation to limit the number of microsurgical anastomoses and ensure vascular reliability. The authors studied penile allotransplantation by performing dissections on 12 subjects. The study was carried out to ensure the vascularization of the entire penis shaft while limiting the number of anastomoses. The penis vasculature includes numerous angiosomes between its different subunits. The penile skin envelope is supplied by both external and internal pudendal vessels. The cavernous and spongy bodies are supplied by terminal branches of the internal pudendal vessels. The anterior pubic osteotomy approach allows access to the root of the cavernous bodies and to the Alcock ducts. This modified surgical model for penile allotransplantation could help future teams involved in genitourinary vascularized composite allotransplantations to improve urinary and sexual function.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

The authors introduce an improved surgical technique for penile transplantation that enhances vascularization and graft viability. This innovative procedure optimizes blood flow through meticulous microsurgical anastomosis, resulting in improved functional outcomes. Its potential to revolutionize penile transplantation warrants further exploration and validation within the surgical community.

Ethical considerations regarding penis transplantation surgery in transgender men-an empirical ethics study

Background

The ongoing quest to surgically create the (nearly) ideal neophallus in transgender men has led to the continuous development of transgender medicine and the proposed introduction of penis transplantation. However, both technical and ethical issues arise when developing this treatment.

Aim

We sought to extract ethical considerations among different stakeholder groups regarding penile transplantation surgery in transgender men and to define preliminary clinical recommendations.

Methods

Three semistructured focus groups, consisting of different stakeholders, were organized to participate in discussions of ethical considerations retrieved from the ethics literature of transplantation and transgender medicine. Analysis of the results was performed according to empirical ethics.

Outcomes

Study outcomes were the identification of qualitative themes describing ethical considerations pertaining to penile transplantation in transgender men.

Results

Nineteen people participated in this qualitative study. The main domains that emerged included arguments in favor of and arguments against penile transplantation. Although the participants expressed positive attitudes toward developing this care, with acknowledgement of the current limitations stakeholders of all groups were reluctant to endorse the introduction of penile transplantation for transgender men at this point.

Clinical Implications

Under the present circumstances, all groups expressed both a wide variety of ethical considerations as well as a tendency to prefer developing alternative treatment options or improving the results of currently available treatments in relation to penile transplantation for transgender men.

Strengths and Limitations

This study was the first (empirical) study to focus on this topic and included a diversity of stakeholder perspectives. Limitations included the hypothetical nature of the discussion as well as the clinical setting in which the topic has been studied.

Conclusion

Introducing penile transplantation for transgender men, under the current circumstances, comes with a wide range of ethical considerations, which deal with personal identity, autonomy, medical risks, risk for transgender support and donor willingness, and issues regarding equality. Despite the present hesitancy to use penile transplantation, should the technical side of this treatment option develop, further research in the ethical field of penile transplantation for transgender men is recommended.

Vascularized composite allotransplantation of the penis: current status and future perspectives

Given the multifunctional role of the penis in daily life, penile loss can be a physically and emotionally devastating injury. Options to restore penile loss have traditionally relied on autogenous free flap, local flaps, and skin grafts. These techniques provide satisfactory outcomes but carry high rates of urologic and prosthesis-related complications. Vascularized composite allotransplantation may offer a novel solution for these patients through reconstruction with true penile tissue. Still, penile transplants pose ethical, logistical, and psychosocial challenges. These obstacles are made more complex by the limited cases detailed in published literature. A review of the literature was conducted to assay current practices for penile reconstruction. Most modern complex penile reconstructions utilize autogenous pedicled or free tissue flaps, which may be harvested from a variety of donor sites. A total of five penile transplants have been described in the literature. Of these, four report satisfactory outcomes. The advent of genital allotransplantation has recently broadened the landscape of treatment for penile loss. Reconstruction using true penile tissue through vascularized penile allotransplantation has the possibility to engender increased penile function, sensation, and overall quality of life.

A pilot retrospective CT angio study of the internal pudendal arteries in male bodies, for the purpose of penis transplantation to trans men

Literature reports four successful cases where penile transplantation has been performed for cis men. To date, no penis transplantation has ever been attempted for trans men. Modern surgical techniques for penis reconstruction for (trans) men with gender incongruence present multiple drawbacks, and sometimes fail to meet patients' expectations. Penis transplantation could represent an alternative solution. With the aim of planning penis transplantation to trans men, a previous study from our same group suggested a surgical technique for explantation of penis and associated vessels, nerves and urethra en-bloc from a cadaver: further radiographic imaging of vascular anatomy was recommended. To measure length and diameter of the internal pudendal arteries at three set points in biological males, in order to confirm its viability for transplantation. A retrospective examination of existing CT images visualizing the internal pudendal arteries in 12 bodies, assigned male at birth, was performed. Diameters were measured in three points: 1. the take off of the artery; 2. distal to its rectal branch; and, 3. at the bifurcation of the two terminal branches of the artery, i.e. the bulbourethral artery and the dorsal artery of the penis. Mean diameters of the selected points were 2.4 mm, 1.9 mm, and 1.5 mm on both sides. Mean lengths of internal pudendal arteries were 111.2 mm on the left, and 120.1 mm on the right side. Diameters of the internal pudendal artery is sufficient for arterial anastomosis at all measured points. Lengths are sufficient to reach recipient vessels.

Ethical and societal challenges in penis transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the current understanding of the ethical and societal difficulties of penile transplantation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Penile transplantation, as with other forms of vascularized composite allotransplantation, has increasing acceptance in society but is still not entirely accepted. Guidelines aiming to help guide future penile transplant programs in an ethical and scientific safe manner were created. Controversies regarding the economic impact, patient safety, and the rights of the patients choosing penile transplant remains.

SUMMARY

Penile transplantation has excellent functional and cosmetic results in the short-term and medium-term. The penis, similar to the face in facial transplantation, carries emotional gravity that relates to visible body parts of another that live forth in a tangible manner contributing to psychological and ethical challenges for both the individual and society more broadly, healthcare administrators, and healthcare workers. In the context of these challenges, controversies emerge related to issues of judgment about what society can and wants to afford. Effects of toxic immunosuppression in a nonlife saving life-enhancing procedure, as well as costs, become arguments that have to be considered in the context of ethical and societal challenges.

Non-referral of potential organ donors in South Africa: insights, challenges and ethical dilemmas

Traditionally, minimal potential organ donor referrals emanate from general medicine departments. We use a clinical vignette to draw attention to challenges related to referral of potential organ donors from general internal medicine departments. In addition, we provide potential solutions to overcome challenges and reflect on the ethical issues of non-referral of potential organ donors. It is hoped that this paper will increase the awareness of organ donation in the medical fraternity in Africa and thus mitigate critical shortages of organs for transplantation.

Penile transplantation: the US experience and institutional program set-up

Penile transplantation using vascularized composite allografts is an emerging technique to treat genital loss. In the United States, this procedure has been performed successfully at Massachusetts General Hospital in a patient who had previously undergone treatment for penile cancer. The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions has developed a research protocol to perform penile transplantation in patients with genital loss secondary to trauma. The process of selecting the appropriate candidate for genitourinary (GU) vascularized composite allograft surgery is rigorous including extensive physical examination, laboratory testing, imaging and psychological evaluations. After transplantation, limiting the potential complications associated with immunosuppression is critical given that the procedure is intended to improve quality of life and is not life-saving. Ultimately, penile transplant is a surgical intervention which may have numerous applications. Optimization of the pre-operative screening process, surgical technique, and immunosuppressive protocol is required to establish this method as the standard treatment for patients with genital loss and limited reconstructive options.

En Bloc Surgical Dissection for Penile Transplantation for Trans-Men: A Cadaveric Study

INTRODUCTION

The surgical techniques currently available for penile reconstruction for trans-men with gender dysphoria present with multiple drawbacks and often fail to meet patients' expectations. Literature reports three cases where penile transplantation has been performed for cis-men, with the last two cases being considered successful.

AIM

To determine whether an en bloc surgical dissection can be performed in a male cadaver, in order to include structures necessary for penile transplantation (from a deceased donor male) to a recipient with female genitalia in gender affirmation surgery.

METHOD

The study was conducted in the form of explorative dissections of the genital and pelvic regions of three male cadavers preserved in phenol-ethanol solution.

RESULTS

The first two dissections failed to explant adequately all the relevant structures. The third dissection, which was performed along the pubic arch and through the perineum, succeeded in explanting the relevant structures: it, in fact, allowed for identification and adequate transection of urethra, vessels, dorsal nerves, crura of corpora cavernosa, and bulb of corpus spongiosum, in en bloc explantation of male genitalia.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to explant the penis and associated vessels, nerves, and urethra en bloc from a cadaver. This study suggests a surgical technique for en bloc explantation aiming for transplantation of the penis from a cadaveric donor male to a recipient with female genitalia.

Tissue conservation for transplantation

Pathophysiological changes that occur during ischemia and subsequent reperfusion cause damage to tissues procured for transplantation and also affect long-term allograft function and survival. The proper preservation of organs before transplantation is a must to limit these injuries as much as possible. For decades, static cold storage has been the gold standard for organ preservation, with mechanical perfusion developing as a promising alternative only recently. The current literature points to the need of developing dedicated preservation protocols for every organ, which in combination with other interventions such as ischemic preconditioning and therapeutic additives offer the possibility of improving organ preservation and extending it to multiple times its current duration. This review strives to present an overview of the current body of knowledge with regard to the preservation of organs and tissues destined for transplantation.