Can you do a head transplant?

This that sounds like science fiction or, worse still, a horror movie, could come true sooner than we think.An Italian surgeon who has been investigating the subject for some time presented in June 2014 his plans to carry out the first human head transplant in the next two years.

The surgeon in question it is called Sergio Canavero .Canavero believes that a revolutionary procedure called HEAVEN-GEMINI could save the lives of people with metastases or muscle wasting disorders (such as muscular dystrophy ).

In mid-2013, Canavero already pointed out some challenges for human head transplantation , among which it was important to reconnect the severed spinal cord and prevent the immune system from rejecting the donor's head.However, recently, in an editorial published in Surgical Neurology International , Canavero said he believed that these challenges can already be overcome, and noted that recent animal studies have confirmed that c transplant Human bee is "feasible."

Head transplantation is not a new thing

The idea of head transplantation is not new.In 1970, neurosurgeon Robert White transplanted the head of a monkey to the body of another monkey.Although the animal was able to see and hear, and had taste and smell, the animal was paralyzed because the surgeons did not have the technology to melt the nerves of the spinal cord of the monkey to his head.

Can you do a head transplant?

He died 9 days after the procedure, after his immune system rejected the head.

Technology already allows successful head transplantation

Canavero points out that a 2014 study conducted by a team of German researchers has successfully reconnected the rats that have been splanted the head of another rat, which suggests the same technique could be applied to humans.

In addition, the researcher believes that modern drugs provide the possibility that immunological rejection is less likely than before.

What will the HEAVEN-GEMINI procedure involve?

As we said at the beginning, the revolutionary procedure that will allow you to do head transplants is called HEAVEN-GEMINI.For this procedure, both the The recipient's head as the donor's body will be placed in hypothermia mode for approximately 45 minutes, so that any risk of neurological damage caused by a lack of oxygen can be eliminated.

The head is removed from the body of the donor using a special device called ultra-sharp blade in order to limit the damage to the spinal cord.The key to the fusion of the spinal cord, according to Canavero, is a «strong break of the medulla itself to cause minimal damage to the axons in the white matter and to the neurons.

Can you do a head transplant?

The recipient's head will then be attached to the donor's body. This is the most difficult part of the procedure, because it will involve the final fusion of the spinal cord of the body with that of the head.Canavero says that chemicals called polyethylene glycol or chitosan can be used to promote fusion.Next, the muscles are sutured and blood is supplied.

In his original proposal, Canavero said the procedure was it is likely that would last about 36 hours and that the work of a hundred surgeons would be required.Once the surgery is over, the recipient remains in a coma for about 3-4 weeks to prevent neck movements and allow time for the nerve connections to melt.During this time, the recipient's spinal cord would be attached to electrical stimulation through implanted electrodes, with the aim of improving new connections nervous.

Canavero told New Scientist that once the recipient woke up, he should be able to move his whole body and his voice sound Likewise, he believes that the patient would be able to walk after a year, receiving appropriate therapy.

A real obstacle: ethics

It is not surprising that many researchers show skeptical on the proposal of Dr.Canavero, claiming that it is too unlikely to work.

In addition, the procedure has raised many ethical concerns .In 2013,.Canavero said there is a concern about whether there is sufficient regulation, not to mention what it could mean in the face of human trafficking, since there would be no rich people without scruples to pay to get younger bodies.

However, Canavero believes that the HEAVEN-GEMINI procedure has the potential to save lives, and expects its proposal to attract Keep some support for the world's first human head transplant.

Image-artislight, Denis Malka, Janine

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