Mauled woman may have face and hand transplant
Source: Agencies |
May 12, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A CONNECTICUT woman mauled and blinded by a chimpanzee is undergoing a preliminary evaluation to determine if she is a potential candidate for a face and hand transplant at a Harvard-affiliated hospital.
According to Brigham and Women's Hospital, Charla Nash will be at the Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospital for a couple of days. A decision is not expected for months.
"I'm cautiously optimistic right now," said plastic surgeon Dr Bohdan Pomahac, who led the team that performed the nation's second face transplant last year. "It is certainly very, very challenging, but that's what we like."
Nash moved last week from the Cleveland Clinic to a Boston-area assisted-living center, where she plans to continue rehabilitation and hopes for more reconstructive surgery. The family is trying to keep her location private.
The 90-kilogram pet chimpanzee went berserk in February 2009 after its owner asked Nash to help lure it back into her house. The animal ripped off Nash's hands, nose, lips and eyelids.
Pomahac said Brigam and Women's Hospital has not done hand transplants, but has reattached arms and hands.
The face transplant done last year took 17 hours, Pomahac said. He said the face and hand transplant could be done simultaneously, which would be easier for the patient, or separately.
According to Brigham and Women's Hospital, Charla Nash will be at the Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospital for a couple of days. A decision is not expected for months.
"I'm cautiously optimistic right now," said plastic surgeon Dr Bohdan Pomahac, who led the team that performed the nation's second face transplant last year. "It is certainly very, very challenging, but that's what we like."
Nash moved last week from the Cleveland Clinic to a Boston-area assisted-living center, where she plans to continue rehabilitation and hopes for more reconstructive surgery. The family is trying to keep her location private.
The 90-kilogram pet chimpanzee went berserk in February 2009 after its owner asked Nash to help lure it back into her house. The animal ripped off Nash's hands, nose, lips and eyelids.
Pomahac said Brigam and Women's Hospital has not done hand transplants, but has reattached arms and hands.
The face transplant done last year took 17 hours, Pomahac said. He said the face and hand transplant could be done simultaneously, which would be easier for the patient, or separately.
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