Penile reconstruction, a first for MKCG Berhampur doctors

Berhampur: A 32-year-old man has received a fresh lease of life after doctors at the state-run Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College and Hospital here successfully reconstructed his penis and urethra, which he lost around two months ago, in a 9-10-hour marathon surgery.The department of plastic and reconstructive surgery, performed the first-of-its-kind surgery at the health hub in three stages on Nov 22, Dec 10 and Jan 16. A team of doctors, led by Dr Pruthwiraj Singh, associate professor in plastic and reconstructive surgery, took around 9 to 10 hours for the definitive surgery. “The patient will remain under observation for a few days in the hospital ICU,” said Dr Singh on Saturday.He said a complex penile and urethral reconstruction was done using a tube-in-tube free radial forearm flap with microsurgical technique. “Tissue was harvested from the left forearm to create a neophallus and neourethra, with the objective of restoring urinary function and achieving acceptable anatomical form,” Dr Singh said.Durga Madhab Satapathy, the MKCG superintendent, congratulated the doctors’ team for performing such a rare and complex marathon surgery.

Doctors said the unidentified patient was brought to the emergency department in an unconscious condition with complete amputation of the penis on Nov 21 night. Later, he was identified as a resident of Buguda block and working in Gujarat’s Surat. Co-passengers reportedly found unconscious with injuries on his penis on a train from Gujarat.