- Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, Turin, Italy
Correspondence Address:
Sergio Canavero
Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, Turin, Italy
DOI:10.4103/2152-7806.113444
Copyright: © 2013 Canavero S This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.How to cite this article: Canavero S. HEAVEN: The head anastomosis venture Project outline for the first human head transplantation with spinal linkage (GEMINI). Surg Neurol Int 13-Jun-2013;4:
How to cite this URL: Canavero S. HEAVEN: The head anastomosis venture Project outline for the first human head transplantation with spinal linkage (GEMINI). Surg Neurol Int 13-Jun-2013;4:. Available from: http://sni.wpengine.com/surgicalint_articles/heaven-the-head-anastomosis-venture-project-outline-for-the-first-human-head-transplantation-with-spinal-linkage-gemini/
Abstract
In 1970, the first cephalosomatic linkage was achieved in the monkey. However, the technology did not exist for reconnecting the spinal cord, and this line of research was no longer pursued. In this paper, an outline for the first total cephalic exchange in man is provided and spinal reconnection is described. The use of fusogens, special membrane-fusion substances, is discussed in view of the first human cord linkage. Several human diseases without cure might benefit from the procedure.
Keywords: Fusogens, head transplantation, spinal cord reconstruction
In 1970, Robert White and his colleagues successfully transplanted the head of a rhesus monkey on the body of another one, whose head had simultaneously been removed. The monkey lived 8 days and was, by all measures, normal, having suffered no complications.[
The greatest technical hurdle to such endeavor is of course the reconnection of the donor (D)'s and recipient (R)'s spinal cords. It is my contention that the technology only now exists for such linkage. This paper sketches out a possible human scenario and outlines the technology to reconnect the severed cord (project GEMINI). It is argued that several up to now hopeless medical conditions might benefit from such procedure.
HYPOTHERMIA PROTOCOL
The only way to perform a cephalic exchange in man is to cool the body-recipient (R)'s head to such a low temperature to allow the surgeons to disconnect and reconnect it to the donor (D)'s body, whose head has been removed in the same operating theater by a second surgical team. Once R's head has been detached, it must be joined to D's body, that is, it must be reconnected to the circulatory flow of D, within the hour.[
Clinical experience in cardiac surgery has demonstrated that total circulatory arrest under deep hypothermia (18°C) for 45 minutes produces virtually no discernible neurological damage, with a slight increase on approaching the hour.[
R's blood subjected to PH tends to become coagulopathic: Accordingly, R's head will be exsanguinated before linkage, and flushed with iced (4°C) Ringer's lactate.[
Hypothermia can be achieved in several ways,[
White developed a special form of PH, which he named autocerebral hypothermic perfusion (ACHP).[
After induction of anesthesia and intubation, and insertion of a cerebral 21G thermistor into the right parietal lobe and appropriate exposure, the common carotid arteries and their bifurcations were exposed. The two vertebral arteries were uncovered on each side of the neck as they coursed toward their body canals just caudal to the C6 body. Silk ligatures were passed around each individual artery and threaded through a short glass tube with a narrow opening and capped with a rubber tip for temporary nontraumatic occlusion. Following total body heparizination, the left femoral (F) artery and both common carotid (C) arteries were cannulated with small slightly curved metal cannulas (single carotid cannulation had been found to be unsafe in that it did not afford homogeneous bi-hemispheric cooling in monkeys). These were connected to each other via a pediatric Brown-Harrison high-efficiency heat-exchanger. Fluids of varying temperatures were circulated into the cylinder chamber around the tube containing the perfusing blood from a plastic reservoir using a sump pump. Under electroencephalography (EEG) control and with the F-C shunt open, each cervical artery was occluded beginning with the external carotids and ending with the closure of the vertebrals. With the demonstration that the shunt could maintain a normal EEG at normothermia, ACHP was instituted by altering the temperature of the fluid entering the heat-exchanger: After 48 minutes of perfusion, the intracerebral temperature had reached 11.4°C. Electrocortical activity invariably ceases with cortical temperatures below 20°C making the subject “brain dead”. Brain rewarming could be significantly retarded during the ischemic period by surrounding the head with ice. The patient made an uneventful recovery.
White[
Commercial cooling helmets are widely available[
In HEAVEN, once D's circulation starts flowing into R's exsanguinated head, normal temperatures will be reached within minutes. A thermistor in the brain can be replaced by one placed in the temporalis muscle (TM), as this closely correlates with intraparenchymal brain temperature.[
D's spinal cord will be selectively cooled, that is, no systemic PH will be necessary. With custom-built units,[
PROCEDURAL OUTLINE FOR CEPHALOSOMATIC SEPARATION IN RHESUS MONKEYS
In the seminal experiment,[
Circumferential soft tissue and muscle were divided around the entire surface of the cervical vertebra with ligation and transection of the trachea and esophagus following appropriate intubation Cervical laminectomy was performed at C4-C6 vertebral level with ligation and division of the spinal cord and its vasculature at C5-6. Following spinal cord division, an infusion of catecholamine was begun to counteract the hypotension of ensuing spinal shock with the maintenance of mean arterial pressure (MAP) 80-100 mmHg. Mechanical respiration was begun and continued throughout the experiment The vertebral sinus was obliterated with judicious use of cautery and intravascular injection of fast-setting celloidin Intraosseous destruction of the vertebral arteries was carried out The vertebral body or interspace was transected. At this point, the head and body were completely separated save for the two neurovascular bundles Each carotid artery and jugular vein in turn was divided and reconnected by means of a suitable sized tubing arranged in loops during constant EEG surveillance. Prior to cannulation, the preparation was heparinized and the vagi sectioned under ECG monitoring For vascular transference of the cephalon to the new isolated body, the individual cannulas were occluded and withdrawn from the parent body carotid arteries and jugular veins (in sequence, allowing for continuous cerebral perfusion from one set of cannulas during the exchange) and replaced into the appropriate somatic vessel under EEG observation Following successful cannula-vascular transfer, direct suture anastomosis of the carotid arteries and jugular veins was undertaken (silk 6-0 and 7-0, respectively) under the operating microscope. This permitted discontinuance of purposeful anticoagulation. Fresh monkey blood was available if significant losses were encountered under prolonged heparizination.
The monkey survived, neurologically intact, for 36 hours, having reacquired awareness within 3-4 hours.
With time, some blood loss was encountered from the muscles at the surfaces of surgical transection, due to chronic heparinization. The initial attempt to suture the vessels directly and thus eliminate the necessity of anticoagulation was only partially successful because of the constriction that developed in the jugular vein at the suture line, impeding venous return from the head.
No evidence of cellular changes compatible with a hyper-rejection reaction in cerebral tissue was seen on pathological examination up to 3 postoperative days.[
GEMINI: CORD ANASTOMOSIS
During the GEMINI procedure, the surgeons will cut the cooled spinal cords with an ultra-sharp blade: This is of course totally different from what happens in clinical spinal cord injury, where gross damage and scarring hinder regeneration. It is this “clean cut” the key to spinal cord fusion, in that it allows proximally severed axons to be “fused” with their distal counterparts. This fusion exploits so-called fusogens/sealants.
Several families of inorganic polymers (polyethylene glycol [PEG], nonionic detergents triblock copolymers, i.e., polymers of a PEG–propylene glycol–PEG structure: Poloxamers – e.g., poloxamer 188, 1107 – and poloxamines) are able to immediately reconstitute (fuse/repair) cell membranes damaged by mechanical injury, independently of any known endogenous sealing mechanism.[
Originally, this “fusogenic” potential was exploited to induce the formation of hybridomas during the production of monoclonal antibodies as well as facilitating vesicular fusion in model membrane studies. Membrane fusion and attendant mixing of the cytoplasm of fused cells occurs when adjacent membranes touch in the presence of PEG or similar compound. Acute dehydration of the fusing plasmalemmas permits glycol/protein/lipid structures to resolve into each other at the outer membrane leaflet first and the inner membrane leaflet subsequently.[
In contrast, triblock copolymers, which are mainly composed of PEG side chains around a high molecular mass hydrophobic core, act differently, namely, the hydrophobic head group inserts itself into the membrane breach, seal-plugging it.
The diameter of injured axons does not affect their susceptibility to repair by PEG: Both myelinated and unmyelinated axons are equally susceptible, but also neurons.
PEG is easy to administer and has a strong safety record in man, often employed as vehicle to clinically injected therapeutic agents.[
Bittner et al.[
To sum up, no more than 2 minutes of application of PEG can fuse previously severed myelinated axons in completely transected spinal cords, enough to permit the diffusion of intracellular markers throughout the reconnected segments and immediate recover of conduction of compound action potentials lost after injury. Injected PEG crosses the blood–brain barrier and spontaneously targets areas of neural injury, without accumulating or lingering in undamaged tissues. Similarly, PEG injected beneath the perineural sheath near the lesion in peripheral nerves is effective in functional repair.[
Certainly, PEG-mediated plasma membrane resealing is incomplete: Compound action potentials are only 20% strong, owing to either leakiness to K+ or inability of PEG to target paranodal regions of clustered K+ channels likely exposed to demyelination. However, this can be partially offset by the administration of a specific agent, 4-AminoPyridine, a drug in clinical use, with doubling of recovered strength (40%).[
Fortunately, better ways to deliver PEG have been developed.
One involves self-assembled monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D, L-lactic acid) [mPEG (2000)-PDLLA] di-block copolymer micelles (60 nm diameter), in which a PEG shell surrounds a hydrophobic inner core. These polymeric micelles, sizing from 10 to 100 nm, possess unique properties such as biocompatibility and long blood residence time, and have been widely investigated as nano-carriers of water-insoluble drugs.[
Another way exploits monodispersed, mesoporous spherical PEG-decorated silica nanoparticles: These are hydrophilic, biocompatible, nontoxic, and stable. This colloid-based PEG derivative may do an even better job compared with polymer solution by controlling the density of PEG molecules at cord level.[
An alternative, possible better way to fuse severed axons has been described.[
Better agents than PEG have been identified and are available. Chitosan (poly-β-(1 → 4)-D-glucosamine) is a positively charged natural polymer that can be prepared by de-N-acetylation of chitin, a widely found natural biopolymer (crustaceans, fungi). It is biocompatible, biodegradable, and nontoxic. It is normally used as clinical hemostatic and wound healing agent in both gauze and granules. Chitosan appears superior to PEG: Chitosan in sterile saline (or otherwise nanoengineered nano/micro particles) can act as a potent membrane sealer and neuroprotector, being endowed with significant targeting ability.[
Combining the actions of both chitosan and PEG leads to a newly developed hydrogel based on photo-cross-linkable chitosan (Az-C), prepared by partial conjugation of 4-azidobenzoic acid (ABA) to chitosan.[
A possible objection to GEMINI involves the supposed need for proper mechanical alignment (abutment) of the severed axons. The behavioral results of the PEG experiments, however, make a strong point that, while the number of axons reconnected to be expected is unknown, the results are nonetheless clinically meaningful, as highlighted by Bittner et al.[
POSSIBLE PROCEDURAL SCENARIO OF HEAVEN SURGERY
What follows is a possible scenario in order to give the reader a feel for the whole endeavor.
Donor is a brain dead patient, matched for height and build, immunotype and screened for absence of active systemic and brain disorders. If timing allows, an autotransfusion protocol with D's blood can be enacted for reinfusion after anastomosis.
The procedure is conducted in a specially designed operating suite that would be large enough to accommodate equipment for two surgeries conducted simultaneously by two separate surgical teams.
The anesthesiological management and preparation is outlined elsewhere.[
Antibiotic coverage is provided throughout the procedure and thereafter as needed.
Before PH, barbiturate or propofol loading is carried out in R to obtain burst suppression pattern. Once cooling begins, the infusion is kept constant. On arrest, the infusion is discontinued in R, and started in D. An infusion of lidocaine is also started, given the neuroprotective potential.[
R's head is subjected to PH (ca 10°C), while D's body will only receive spinal hypothermia; this does not alter body temperature. This also avoids any ischemic damage to D's major organs. R lies supine during induction of PH, then is placed in the standard neurosurgical sitting position, whereas D is kept upright throughout. The sitting position facilitates the surgical maneuvers of the two surgical teams. In particular, a custom-made turning stand acting as a crane is used for shifting R's head onto D's neck. R's head, previously fixed in a Mayfield three-pin fixation ring, will literally hang from the stand during transference, joined by long Velcro straps. The suspending apparatus will allow surgeons to reconnect the head in comfort.
The two teams, working in concert, would make deep incisions around each patient's neck, carefully separating all the anatomical structures (at C5/6 level forward below the cricoid) to expose the carotid and vertebral arteries, jugular veins and spine. All muscles in both R and D would be color-coded with markers to facilitate later linkage. Besides the axial incisions, three other cuts are envisioned, both for later spinal stabilization and access to the carotids, trachea and esophagus (R's thyroid gland is left in situ): Two along the anterior margin of the sternocleidomastoids plus one standard midline cervical incision.
Under the operating microscope, the cords in both subjects are clean-cut simultaneously as the last step before separation. Some slack must be allowed for, thus allowing further severance in order to fashion a strain-free fusion and side-step the natural retraction of the two segments away from the transection plane. White matter is particularly resistant to many of the factors associated with secondary injury processes in the central nervous system (CNS) such as oxygen and glucose deprivation and this is a safeguard to local manipulation.
Once R's head is separated, it is transferred onto D's body to the tubes that would connect it to D's circulation, whose head had been removed. The two cord stumps are accosted, length-adjusted and fused within 1-2 minutes: The proximal and distal cord segments must not be accosted too tightly to avoid further damage and not too loose to stop fusion. A chitosan-PEG glue, as described, will effect the fusion. Simultaneously, PEG or a derivative is infused into D's blood-stream over 15’-30’. A few loose sutures are applied around the joined cord, threading the arachnoid, in order to reinforce the link. A second IV injection of PEG or derivative may be administered within 4-6 hours of the initial injection.
The bony separation can be achieved transsomatically (i.e., C5 or C6 bodies are cut in two) or through the intervertebral spaces. In both R and D, after appropriate laminectomies, a durotomy, both on the axial and posterior sagittal planes, would follow, exposing the cords. In D, the cord only has been previously cooled. If need be, pressure in D is maintained with volume expansion and appropriate drugs.
The vascular anastomosis for the cephalosomatic preparation is easily accomplished by employing bicarotid-carotid and bijugular-jugular silastic loop cannulae. Subsequently, the vessel tubes would be removed one by one, and the surgeons would sew the arteries and veins of the transplanted head together with those of the new body. Importantly, during head transference, the main vessels are tip-clamped to avoid air embolism and a later no-reflow phenomenon in small vessels. Upon linkage, D's flow will immediately start to rewarm R's head. The previously exposed vertebral arteries will also be reconstructed.
The dura is sewn in a watertight fashion. Stabilization would follow the principles employed for teardrop fractures, anterior followed by posterior stabilization with a mix of wires/cables, lateral mass screws and rods, clamps and so forth, depending on cadaveric rehearsals.
Trachea, esophagus, the vagi, and the phrenic nerves are reconnected, these latter with a similar approach to the cord. All muscles are joined appropriately using the markers. The skin is sewn by plastic surgeons for maximal cosmetic results.
R is then brought to the intensive care unit (ICU) where he/she will be kept sedated for 3 days, with a cervical collar in place. Appropriate physiotherapy will be instituted during follow-up until maximal recovery is achieved.
COROLLARY CONSIDERATIONS
A possibility that must be considered is the onset of cord Central Pain (CP)), following transection of the spinothalamic tract (STT). While fusion of the STT tract is also expected, a suboptimal fusion might trigger the pain in susceptible individuals. The genesis of CP has been elucidated and a cure is available.[
After transplant, body image and identity issues will need to be addressed, as the patient gets used to seeing and using the new body. The patient's perception of the allotransplant should continuously be readdressed by the psychiatrists to ensure that positive, but realistic expectations are maintained. The key indicators for success are the patient's ability to form alliances with his or her health care team, intellectual and emotional development, and body image, and whether he or she has untreated or ongoing posttraumatic stress disorder. Further psychiatric assessment and treatment may be needed based on individual results to prevent an adverse postoperative emotional reaction and to ensure that the stress or anxiety related to the procedure, recovery, and new body is addressed and kept to a minimum.[
Immunosuppression is induced by a specific medication regimen and is monitored by the transplant physician and transplant coordinator. Posttransplant blood samples need to be drawn at regular intervals to screen for the development of antidonor antibodies. Ideally, serum is drawn concurrent with obtaining tissue biopsies to facilitate correlation of histology with systemic markers of immunologic activation. Biopsies should be performed regularly for suspected rejection or infection.
CONDITIONS QUALIFYING FOR HEAVEN
Several conditions would qualify for HEAVEN surgery. White[
CONCLUSION
HEAVEN appears to have grown into a feasible enterprise early in the 21st century, as anticipated by White.
Extensive preparation for the surgery will be necessary. The teams will have to refine the approach details on cadaveric specimens and the surgery will have to be reenacted several times in order to coordinate the surgical and anesthesiological teams. GEMINI will also need to be confirmed with preliminary primate experimentation, or, ideally in brain dead patients before organ explantation.
On the whole, in the face of clear commitment, HEAVEN could bear fruit within a couple of years.
I have not addressed the ethical aspects of HEAVEN. In Thomas Mann's “The Transposed Heads,” two friends, the intellectual Shridaman and the earthy Nanda, behead themselves. Magically, their severed heads are restored – but to the wrong body, and Shridaman's wife, Sita, is unable to decide which combination represents her real husband. The story is further complicated by the fact that Sita happens to be in love with both men. This short story highlights the ethical dilemma that must be faced: The HEAVEN created “chimera” would carry the mind of the recipient but, should he or she reproduce, the offspring would carry the genetic inheritance of the donor.
However, it is equally clear that horrible conditions without a hint of hope of improvement cannot be relegated to the dark corner of medicine. This paper lays out the groundwork for the first successful human head transplant.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author wish to express his gratitude to the two unknown referees for their warm support and suggestions.
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Diana Kretzschmar
Posted September 10, 2015, 8:13 pm
Why would you choose this over stemcell transplant? That has showed to be quite effective too.
Fred Hart
Posted September 30, 2015, 4:43 am
Hello Doc, I am a student at Eastern Oklahoma State College. I am writing a paper on your outline. Your idea is totally fascinating. I have an idea for you, for aligning the axons. I will use the heart for example. Once the gel is applied, stimulate the brain to send a signal to start the heart to beat. Then at the same time stimulate the heart to send a signal to the brain. So the two signals my help proper nerve connection. Just a thought, I wish you and your team the best of luck and I will be watching with the world. Thanks for your time.
Israel Rodriguez-Rios
Posted October 13, 2015, 4:51 pm
Ciao Dr. Canavero ,
Ho seguito alcuni dei vostri lavori pubblicati e sono molto interessato al vostro lavoro . Come studente pre – medico, ritengo che questi sono i tipi di procedure che non sono accettate immediatamente , ma sono così disperatamente bisogno. E ‘ la tua volontà a lottare in avanti che ha ottenuto la mia attenzione . La ragione di questa e-mail è quello di chiedere una guida per diventare un neurochirurgo . Ho shawdowing un neurochirurgo per un anno , ma sento che è il momento di iniziare a ramificazione.
Grazie per il tuo tempo, Israel Rodriguez-Rios
Şeyda Erdoğan
Posted September 4, 2016, 10:42 pm
hello longer do we have a patient with brain death head transplant is possible today? If possible, where and how we can implement it?
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Posted September 20, 2016, 9:03 am
[…] notes in his paper that both of the heads would have to be removed from their bodies at the same time. Working […]
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Posted September 20, 2016, 1:16 pm
[…] records in his paper that both of a heads would have to be removed from their bodies during a same time. Working […]
Andreea Bostean
Posted February 22, 2017, 9:38 pm
Is this classified as a (primary) research paper?
Mohammmed Elfatih
Posted March 5, 2017, 9:41 pm
I wish to assist in this operation …contact me
Chris
Posted April 23, 2017, 8:30 am
I have followed this field and history since Med School in 1977.
Several lapses in between as has the academic community.
Looks like many are getting ready for an attempt and it should
be discussed at several levels and provide an opportunity for
humans to express their horror or hope for it to move forward
Deane Smith
Posted May 31, 2017, 12:44 pm
I remember the first heart bypass surgery, it didn’t last very long. Cancer used to be a death sentence, period. Organ transplants were never done before 1954 and the list goes on. Regardless of the vas opinions the world may hold…I will be one watching and waiting with anticipation.
Praying God will guide your hands and provide all involved with divine wisdom. May astonishing success be your story to share.
Slobodan Grasic
Posted October 31, 2018, 7:42 am
Extremely stupid, based on Robert J. White’s barbaric and failed experiment. Transplantations are rubbish due to immune incompatibility that can be overcome only by means of immunosuppression which renders a poor quality of life. With expanding knowledge in molecular aspects of regeneration, allotransplantations are redundant.
Aritra Ghosh
Posted September 21, 2020, 11:17 pm
I always pray for your success …May Apollo guide your hands.
Charlene Krejci-Simmons
Posted March 26, 2023, 3:33 pm
I worked across the hall at Metro General Hospial from Dr White (1975 -1976). He was an extraordinarily gifted surgeon. He saved many patients with gliomas that back then were considered inoperable and a death sentence. One morning I saw the monkey with a head then without and then with. I got to observe him with his eyes following me and was allowed to touch him and I kissed his head. The ability to perform what was considered impossible resulted from his gifted hands from God and many human lives being saved by Dr. White. There is more than one side to this story. Dr. Charlene Krejci