First head transplant may be done on a Russian

A 30 year old Russian computer scientist who has been suffering from a rare muscle wasting disease has consented to transplant his head to a healthy body. This surgery may take more than 2 years to be conducted. The Russian, Walery Spiridonov has approached an Italian surgeon Dr. Serge Canavero, who recently claimed to have developed a technique that would allow the world’s first human head transplant.

Though many people have sent their interest for this transplant, Dr.Canavero says his first preference is for patients who have muscle wasting disease. He seems to get much consent from people who are transsexuals.

Dr.Canavero who requires a major academic medical center to host this endeavor has desire to do this in US. He is set to present his plan to the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopedic Surgeons, at its annual conference in June.

How the procedure would take place

Surgeons would need to cut into the neck and find the major blood vessels and then link them using tiny tubes.Then they would Cut the spinal cord on both bodies. Canavero says the key thing is to sever the spinal cords cleanly with a very fine blade.They would then need to move the recipient’s head onto the donor body and fuse the ends of the spinal cord.

Canavero proposes using a special substance called Polyethylene glycol that can be used to fuse together severed nerves.

After the spinal cords had been connected, the muscles and blood supply would be stitched together and the patient would be put into a medically induced coma for a month which would keep the spinal cord completely still while it healed.Then stimulate the spinal cord with electricity to provide regular electrical stimulation to the spinal cord, which should strengthen new nerve connections.

Following all of these steps, Dr. Canavero believes that the patient would wake up and be able to move and feel their face and be able to walk within a year.