Vietnam has achieved a major medical milestone after successfully performing its first penis transplant using an organ donated by a brain-dead donor, marking a significant advancement in the country’s reconstructive transplant surgery.
The groundbreaking procedure was carried out at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital in Hanoi.
The recipient was a 43-year-old man who underwent a partial penectomy four years ago due to a medical condition.
Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Quang, director of the hospital’s Andrology Centre, said the patient underwent a comprehensive evaluation involving specialists in clinical medicine, immunology, psychology and medical ethics before being approved for the transplant.
He said the primary goal of the procedure was not only to replace the missing organ but also to restore its anatomical function and improve the patient’s long-term quality of life.
The surgery required extremely high precision as it involved reconnecting critical structures, including the urethra, erectile tissue and blood vessels, using advanced reconstructive and microsurgical techniques.
The operation lasted about six hours and was made even more challenging because the patient had previously undergone vascular surgery in the same area.
According to the medical team, the transplanted organ showed healthy blood circulation immediately after surgery, with normal colour and temperature.
Clinical examinations and Doppler ultrasound scans also confirmed there were no signs of tissue death or blocked blood vessels.
One week after the operation, doctors reported that the transplanted organ was recovering well and showed excellent anatomical progress.
However, the medical team stressed that penis transplantation is among the most complex forms of vascularised composite tissue transplantation.
The patient is currently receiving anti-rejection medication and will remain under close medical observation for the coming months before the long-term success of the transplant can be fully assessed.
Hospital director Associate Professor Dr Duong Duc Hung said the achievement reflects Vietnam’s growing expertise in complex tissue transplantation and demonstrates the maturity of the country’s organ transplant programme.
He added that the procedure could offer new treatment options for patients who have lost their penis due to cancer, industrial accidents, road crashes, animal attacks, war injuries, unexploded ordnance or congenital conditions.
The donated organ came from a university student in Hanoi who was declared brain dead following a road accident.
According to the hospital, only five similar procedures have been performed worldwide prior to this case.
Dr Hung said the donor’s father voluntarily agreed to donate his son’s organs to save the lives of others and declined any financial assistance throughout the process.
The hospital is now preparing to perform Vietnam’s first uterus and ovary transplants as part of its efforts to further expand reconstructive organ transplantation.
