/ / / First Uterus Transplant In U.S. Fails, Organ Removed Due To Complications

First Uterus Transplant In U.S. Fails, Organ Removed Due To Complications

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first uterus transplant successful in u.s.

The first uterus transplant in the United States has failed only a month after the operation took place.

Earlier this week, the Inquisitr reported that the first uterus transplant had been completed successfully during a nine-hour operation in February. However, after complications arose, the organ had to be removed.

The uterus transplant recipient only revealed her first name, Lindsey, 26. Lindsey has uterine factor infertility, which means she was born without a uterus, but has healthy ovaries that produce eggs each month.

“Women who are coping with UFI [uterine factor infertility] have few existing options,” Dr. Tommaso Falcone, an obstetrician-gynecologist and Cleveland Clinic Women’s Health Institute chairman, said in a 2015 statement to ABC News. “Although adoption and surrogacy provide opportunities for parenthood, both pose logistical challenges and may not be acceptable due to personal, cultural or legal reasons.”

Lindsey’s uterus transplant took place at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio on February 24. Prior to the surgery, she and her husband banked six to 10 embryos through in vitro fertilization so she could have them implanted if everything went well. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Clinic announced on Wednesday, March 9 that they had to remove the transplanted uterus after an unspecified complication.

“We are saddened to share that our patient, Lindsey, recently experienced a sudden complication that led to the removal of her transplanted uterus,” Cleveland Clinic said in a statement, according to the Huffington Post.“While this has been difficult for both the patient and the medical team, Lindsey is doing well and recovering.”

Although the clinic has yet to release the specifics regarding Lindsey’s complications, they did say that their pathologists are analyzing the uterus to find out exactly what went wrong.

Lindsey’s uterus transplant was the first of 10 to be conducted by the clinic as part of their experimental trial to help women born without a uterus become pregnant. Although Lindsey’s transplant failed, the clinic said they will still continue with the other nine transplants.

“The study, which has been planned to include 10 women, is still ongoing with a commitment to the advancement of medical research to provide an additional option for women and their families,” the clinic said.

The uterus transplant complications occurred just one day after the surgeons held a news conference to discuss what they thought was a successful procedure, according to the New York Times. At the time, Dr. Andreas G. Tzakis, said that Lindsey had already undergone a biopsy to check for rejection of the uterus, and everything was looking good.

Lindsey also released a statement following her uterus transplant rejection.

“I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude towards all of my doctors,” she said. “They acted very quickly to ensure my health and safety. Unfortunately I did lose the uterus to complications. However, I am doing O.K. and appreciate all of your prayers and good thoughts.”

Prior to the complications, the surgeons explained that the women who undergo uterus transplants will typically have to stay in the hospital one to two months following surgery. After that, the woman can return home, but will have to endure daily anti-rejection medications and monthly visits to the clinic. If everything goes well, the transplant recipient must wait at least a year before her embryos can be implanted.

Although this is the first uterus transplant to take place in the United States, it is not the first to ever be completed. Sweden was the first country to report a successful birth in 2014 from a woman with a transplanted uterus. Since then, Sweden has had a total of five healthy babies from nine uterus transplants.

[Photo via Shutterstock]

First Uterus Transplant In U.S. Fails, Organ Removed Due To Complications is an article from: The Inquisitr News

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