FIRST IMPLANTATION OF THE ZSI 475 FTM INFLATABLE PROSTHESIS IN SPAIN
Last week, plastic surgeon Dr. Eduardo Simón implanted the ZSI 475 FTM inflatable prosthesis. The procedure took place in Valencia, Spain, and this marks the first time one of these devices has been implanted in Spain.
Dr. Simón is the surgeon in charge of the Comunidad Valenciana de la Cirugía de Reasignación de Género (Valencia society for gender reassignment surgery). After traveling to Lyon, France, to learn the implantation technique from Dr. Nicolas Morel-Journel, Dr. Simón performed the first phalloplasty in Spain using the ZSI 475 FTM, which is designed specifically for use in neo-penises.
To avoid any worries, the operation was scheduled for 9 a.m. and was the only procedure scheduled that morning. The patient was put under general anesthesia in a supine position with his legs slightly separated to facilitate access to the anterior surface of the pubis and for positioning of the prosthesis.
After locating the pedicle of the phalloplasty using sonography and placing the vesical probe to situate the urethra properly, the operation began with a straight lateral incision, which provided access to the anterior surface of the pubis. The dilation of the phalloplasty was achieved with a series of Hegar dilators up to number 21. During the dissection the vascularization of the neo-penis was maintained at all times, as was the integrity of the two nerves attached to the phalloplasty, thus preserving its sensitivity.
Next Dr. Simón dissected the Retzius (retropubic) space in order to place the reservoir. To place the prosthesis pump in the scrotum, he removed one of the testicular implants and enlarged the scrotal sack. He measured the phalloplasty and selected an 18 cm prosthesis. The placement of that prosthesis and its attachment to the pubis were performed without difficulty. At all time during the surgery, thorough antiseptic measures and surgical techniques were implemented to prevent infection. The prosthesis was cleansed during the procedure with antibiotics as specified in the protocol.
After several tests inflating and deflating the prosthesis—producing erections of good quality—Dr. Simón closed the incision. He left a vesical catheter in place for the night. The patient will be able to use his prosthesis once fibrotic scar tissue has stabilized the attachment to the pubis, probably within six to eight weeks.
Dr. Simón is Head Clinician and surgeon responsible for sex change surgeries in public hospital. He also maintains a private office in Valencia. He specializes in plastic and restorative surgery. He completed his training in mircosurgery in New York. He has visited many hospitals abroad (USA, Japan, Taiwan) and has worked with several sex-change doctors concerned with sex changes, including Prof. Montrey in Belgium and Prof. Djordjevic in Serbia. He’s an international member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Visit the webpage of Dr. Eduardo Simón here: http://www.dreduardosimon.com
ZSI is the only European manufacturer of artificial urinary sphincters and of malleable and inflatable penile implants, as solutions for male urological problems (incontinence), sexual complications (Erectile Dysfunction), and gender identity procedures (prostheses for trans men and women).
