This is the worlds first trachea transplant. A 10 year old british boy was born with a rare condition called Long Segment Tracheal Stenosis. Which means it is a tiny windpipe that doesn't mature and restricts breathing. Scientists and surgeons at UCL, GOSH, the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, and the Careggi University Hospital, developed a new technique to treat the life-threatening condition.
They stripped cells from a donated trachea, used it to replace the entire length of the damaged airway, and then used the child's own bone marrow stem cells to seal the airway in the body.the operation to repair the damaged aorta and implant the new trachea.
The application of this technology -- which has never been used on a child before -- should reduce greatly the risk of rejection of the new trachea, as the child's stem cells will not generate any immune response.
They stripped cells from a donated trachea, used it to replace the entire length of the damaged airway, and then used the child's own bone marrow stem cells to seal the airway in the body.the operation to repair the damaged aorta and implant the new trachea.
The application of this technology -- which has never been used on a child before -- should reduce greatly the risk of rejection of the new trachea, as the child's stem cells will not generate any immune response.
I find this a great miracle, not only in science but in this young boys" life. When do we ever hear of someone with an organ that isn't properly grown. Its great that they succesfully made up a new trachea for this boy to survive.
Wow, this is amazing! Medical technology is getting more and more efficient every day. I think it's great that this little boy was given this opportunity and can't wait to see what else the future will bring to medicine!
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