Is it possible to get a head transplant?

Answer 1

Monkey head transplantation had been done in 1970 and 2001 by group of scientists led by neurosurgeon Robert J. White from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio in which the first was said to be success to some extent and the second one was reported as successful. The operation involved cauterizing arteries and veins carefully while the head was being severed to prevent hypovolemia. Because the nerves were left entirely intact, connecting the brain to a blood supply kept it chemically alive.

The majority of neurosurgeons believe that head transplantation in humans will be possible in the near future. The procedure would most likely involve cooling the brain to the point where all neural activity stops. This is to prevent neurons from dying while the brain is being transplanted.It will be a risky procedure but still supporters note that the brain, unlike the liver for example, is an immunologically sound organ; there is no risk of the new body rejecting it. Ethical considerations, however, have thus far prevented any attempt by surgeons to transplant a human being's head.

There is a large debate over this issue. Researchers on this aspect say it would be beneficial for those who would prefer to live as quadriplegic rather than dying. The operation foresees duadriplegic effect to the patient due to the fact that technology effect to reattach the severed spinal cord has not yet been developed.

The scientists had started working on this research and remained unstoppable to pursue doing this procedure to human being so with the advent of science, though head transplants are a step too far, yet the possibility of this procedure is foreseeable but the great concern will be on the length of survival after the procedure plus the ethical concern over this will be most likely the very tough issue involved. Definitely, many will accept to be quadriplegic than to die- there is no question about that. So the big question will be: who will be the head donor? What grounds will then be acceptable to donate head? Really I cannot figure it out but who knows, there might be resolutions to this to make way for human head transplantation to become a reality.

Head transplantation donor,anyone?

Answer 2

A head transplant has be done on a primate in the 1970s by world reknown neurosurgeon, Dr Robert White. However, the spinal cord, like some people have astutely observed, was severed and thus the primate was paralysed from the neck down. Many years prior to this, a russian scientist attached the head of a puppy to the neck of a fully grown dog in an experiement to determine whether the puppies head will normal metabolic activity. It did. The video footage of this "two headed monster-dog" is enough to shock some people into joining P.E.T.A but it nonetheless did lay down some important scientific framework for future neurological work as well as becoming the inspiration for Dr White's research. Assuming that we can overcome the gross factor, not to mention the ethical dilemmas of transplanting a head, the possibility of this development in medicine reaching an explosive climate might just be around the corner with the discovery that specific cells taken from the nasal cavity could just provide the answer to the problem of reconnecting the spinal cord. ... a body transplant would a more accurate term. But I wouldnt mind my head being attached to Van Disels body - or Jessica Simpson's body, for totally different reasons :)

Answer 3

Well, putting the surgical difficulties aside, the procedure, if successfully performed would more correctly be called a body transplant.

If you and I had our heads swapped and we were recovering in adjacent beds on the ward then I expect your relatives would go to visit the bed with your head in it because that's where your personality is.

The procedure has been done in animals though the outcome is pretty bleak as it is not yet possible to reconnect the spinal cord, so you'd be a paraplegic paralysed from the head down.

Answer 4

Just one problem then, would it be a head transplant or a body transplant. And which one is the patient, the body or the head! Who would be responsible for the hospital bill!! I don't think it is a good idea, stick to your own head!! Besides, you don't need another head, yours is cool!

Answer 5

not at this moment, we would have to find some way of keeping the brain alive and supplyed with oxygen and blood while the body/head transplant took place, the next problem would be reconnecting the nerve endings from the head to the spine. connecting the jugular with the next body and most of the main artiries. this also explains why you cant get a foot or hand transplant. same problem betwen connecting veins and nerve endings come out.

Answer 6

I know you can get I face transplant. The first one was preformed on a lady in France after her face was nearly bitten off by a dog.

Your head looks fine you may have to wait awhile if you fancy having a new one lol bet doctors somewhere are working on it, just hold tight lol

Answer 7

No, Chuck Norris is not going to trade heads with you, give up that dream and move on... now if it was Oprah... she's very generous so she might... I can already picture the next show...

Oprah: "So, (your name here), why do you need a head transplant?

you: complain complain blah blah

Oprah: I see (disgusted expression)

you: more complaining etc etc...

*Audience gasps*

Oprah: Well, do I have some goood news for you, I am willing to give you MY HEAD!!! (some exciting music in the background)

Answer 8

About 10 years ago doctors transplanted the heads of two reese's monkeys. They were paralyzed but both survived.

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

Medicine is still grappling with technical handicaps of single organ transplant.Stem cell transplants are at their infancy.Head transplants are yet to be conceived