The first face transplant in the world with a deceased donor by euthanasia, performed in a hospital in Barcelona

About 100 medical specialists in Barcelona have performed a partial face transplant, the first with a deceased donor by euthanasia, using complex microsurgery. The patient can now speak, eat and breathe normally after two years of suffering.

The transplant was carried out at a hospital in Barcelona PHOTO Facebook / Causa Abierta

Vall d'Hebron Hospital performed three of the six face transplants ever performed in Spain. Worldwide, only 54 such transplants have been performed, in approximately twenty transplant centers, writes catalannews.com.

The transplant presented on Monday was the first performed with a donor who died by euthanasia.

“I'm here today to say thank you”said Carme, the woman who received the face transplant, during a press conference on Monday morning.

After suffering necrosis of the facial tissues from a bacterial infection two years ago, she was admitted to intensive care. After discharge, he found that he could no longer eat or breathe properly, which eventually led to the transplant.

“Now my life is starting to improve a little. After four months, I can talk, eat, drink again”she explained.

Face transplantation is a surgical intervention performed when the patient has lost areas of the face, such as the orbicularis oculi muscles or even the eyes, and reconstruction is no longer possible with the usual plastic surgery techniques.

Donation after euthanasia

Spain's euthanasia law, which came into force in June 2021, opened a new possibility for transplants.

In the case of this transplant, because the donor had obtained prior authorization, the medical staff was able to do more extensive planning than usual.

The transplant was also the first in the world where 3D planning could be done for both donor and recipient.

The donor was a woman who had requested euthanasia and who had expressed her desire to be a donor, including her face, if necessary.