Cancer patient regains his voice after third successful larynx transplant in the US: Health: Tech Times

A Massachusetts man has regained his voice after a successful larynx transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Marty Kedian, a 59-year-old Haverhill man, underwent the complex procedure, which is only the third known complete larynx transplant in the United States and the first performed on a patient with active cancer (via CBS News).

Cancer patient regains his voice after rare larynx transplant

Marty Kedian was diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer called chondrosarcoma over ten years ago. The disease and subsequent surgeries left him unable to speak, swallow or breathe normally.

For years, Kedian relied on a tracheostomy, a tube inserted into his throat to help him breathe. Despite his condition, he refused to undergo laryngectomy, which would have permanently removed his larynx.

Kedian found new hope in the Mayo Clinic’s Larynx and Trachea Transplant Program, led by Dr. David Lott. On February 29, an interdisciplinary team of six surgeons performed the 21-hour transplant, replacing Kedian’s cancerous larynx with a donated one.

The surgery also included transplantation of the throat, upper trachea, upper esophagus, thyroid and parathyroid glands, blood vessels and nerves.

“The surgery and the patient’s progress exceeded our expectations,” said Dr. David Lott, chief of the Division of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) – Head and Neck Surgery/Audiology at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Kedian’s case is unique because he was already receiving immunosuppressive therapy from a previous kidney transplant. This existing treatment allowed the surgical team to safely perform the transplant without significantly increasing the risk of cancer recurrence.

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 12,650 new diagnoses of laryngeal cancer in the United States this year. Until now, laryngeal transplantation has been a limited option for many patients due to the risks associated with long-term immunosuppressive therapy.

Also read: 2. Neuralink human trials: Here are the new mods for the next implant

“They gave me my life back”

(Photo: Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay)

Four months after surgery, Kedian’s recovery is going remarkably well. He can speak, swallow and breathe on his own with his new voice. “Mr. Kedian has already regained about 60% of his voice, something I would have thought would only be possible in a year,” noted Dr. Lott. Kedian’s ability to eat and his breathing have also steadily improved.

Kedian expressed his deep gratitude to the Mayo Clinic team and the organ donor’s family. “The Mayo team gave me my life back,” he said. He looks forward to returning to Massachusetts and reading bedtime stories to his granddaughter with his restored voice.

Dr. Lott and colleagues published their initial results on the surgery on Tuesday, July 9, in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Stay up to date here at Tech Times.

Related article: Robotic surgery continues to set historic records worldwide

ⓒ 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission.