Professor Martin Birchall on the landmark larynx transplant

Professor Martin Birchall (UCL Ear Institute) was scientific advisor and UK member of the surgical team that performed a rare larynx (voicebox) transplant on a US patient, attracting worldwide attention. Here, he explains the significance of the operation and the issues surrounding this kind of transplant. To view images of the transplant team and patient, click on the gallery below. Select 'show info' to view captions. "The world's first larynx transplant was performed in 1998 by Marshall Strome and his team at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. This operation is different because it is much bigger - the larynx, trachea and thyroid gland have all been transplanted. It is also unique because we have repaired the nerves so the muscles in the larynx will move again.