A man from Massachusetts has recovered his voice following a groundbreaking surgery where his cancerous larynx was removed and replaced with a donated one.
Larynx transplants, especially in cases of active cancer, are extremely rare. Marty Kedian is only the third person in the U.S. to undergo a total larynx transplant, with the others being due to injuries. This innovative surgery was offered to Kedian as part of a new clinical trial at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
Four months after the transplant, Kedian, 59, shared, “People need to keep their voice. I want people to know this can be done.”
Excited about the progress, Kedian expressed the importance of speaking with his mother again and how the surgery has been life-changing for him.
The groundbreaking surgery, part of a small clinical trial, aims to provide hope for those who have lost their larynx due to various reasons and cannot breathe, swallow, or speak without assistance. The study, which reported early results in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, seeks to establish best practices for these complex transplants.
While previous larynx transplant recipients in the U.S. had lost their voices due to injuries, cancer is the leading cause for many, with thousands undergoing total larynx removal due to the disease.
Despite the challenges of immune suppression and potential tumor development, medical experts hope to expand the reach of larynx transplants and provide a better quality of life for patients like Marty Kedian.