“Overhyped and made to look dramatic”, eminent Indian surgeon trashes head transplantation idea.
Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero had claimed that he has developed a technique to carry out the world’s first human head transplant. Eminent transplant specialist from India, Dr. Subramania Iyer has trashed the idea due to lack of evidence.
In an article to Zee news he says,
“No evidence has been available through animal experiments that this is possible. Also to our current knowledge, this seems to be not possible at present as well as in the foreseeable future,” and also adds,
“This seems to be over-hyped and made more dramatic by the media,”
Dr. Subramania Iyer is a Professor and Chairman of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi. He also headed a team that had successfully done India’s first twin hand transplant from a cadaver donor.
About the head transplantation procedure
The procedure is called “HEAVEN”, an acronym for “head anastomosis venture”. Dr. Canavero explained that a brain dead but otherwise healthy person is to be the donor body for Spiridonov. To prolong the survival period of brain cells without oxygen, Spiridonov’s brain will be cooled down to between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. An especially sharp scalpel will be used to cut the spinal cord which will then be reconnected to the new body with special biological glue. Once the operation is finished Spiridonov will be put into a coma for around three to four weeks to prevent any movement, and his body will take immunosuppressents so the body doesn’t reject the new head
