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| Double hand transplant success | Double hand transplant success |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A woman who became the first in the world to receive a double hand transplant has left hospital. | |
| A team of surgeons at Hospital La Fe in Valencia carried out the pioneering operation. | A team of surgeons at Hospital La Fe in Valencia carried out the pioneering operation. |
| Alba Lucia, 47, originally from Columbia, who had the 10-hour operation on November 30, said she was "very happy and enormously satisfied". | |
| Both her original hands were amputated after an explosion in her student chemistry lab nearly 30 years ago. | Both her original hands were amputated after an explosion in her student chemistry lab nearly 30 years ago. |
| They look beautiful Alba Lucia | They look beautiful Alba Lucia |
| Her new limbs came from a woman who was declared brain dead following an accident. | Her new limbs came from a woman who was declared brain dead following an accident. |
| The donor's arms were removed from above the elbow, and the severed limbs were cooled and transported to Hospital La Fe in less than five hours. | The donor's arms were removed from above the elbow, and the severed limbs were cooled and transported to Hospital La Fe in less than five hours. |
| A team of more than 10 medical professionals, including surgeons and anaesthetists, then worked to attach them to Alba's arms. | A team of more than 10 medical professionals, including surgeons and anaesthetists, then worked to attach them to Alba's arms. |
| Both transplants were carried out simultaneously. | Both transplants were carried out simultaneously. |
| First, Alba's forearms had to be adjusted to match the size of the donor limbs. | First, Alba's forearms had to be adjusted to match the size of the donor limbs. |
| Bones were fixed with metal plates and screws, and microscopic surgery was used to attached the arteries, veins and nerves. | Bones were fixed with metal plates and screws, and microscopic surgery was used to attached the arteries, veins and nerves. |
| After the operation, when she saw her new hands for the first time, Ms Lucia said: "They look beautiful." | After the operation, when she saw her new hands for the first time, Ms Lucia said: "They look beautiful." |
| Arms matched | Arms matched |
| Pedro Cavadas, the lead surgeon, said he was pleased with the outcome of the operation. | Pedro Cavadas, the lead surgeon, said he was pleased with the outcome of the operation. |
| "She has two new hands and forearms two inches above the wrist bone. | "She has two new hands and forearms two inches above the wrist bone. |
| "It will be five to six months before she has any feeling." | "It will be five to six months before she has any feeling." |
| He added: "She's delighted, because after 28 years without hands. she sees herself with some perfectly beautiful ones. | He added: "She's delighted, because after 28 years without hands. she sees herself with some perfectly beautiful ones. |
| "She will have two useful hands that will allow her an independent life." | "She will have two useful hands that will allow her an independent life." |
| But he added: "In any case this is much better than any prosthesis." | But he added: "In any case this is much better than any prosthesis." |
| Six double-handed transplants have been carried out on men. The first was carried out on a 33-year-old man in France in 2000. | Six double-handed transplants have been carried out on men. The first was carried out on a 33-year-old man in France in 2000. |