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A REAL HEAD SCRATCHER

‘Dr Frankenstein’ to reveal exactly how he’ll perform world’s first head transplant in £14million operation

Dr Sergio Canavero says he has the ability to sever the head of Valery Spiridonov and re-attach it to a healthy body

A CONTROVERSIAL surgeon dubbed "Dr Frankenstein" set to perform the worlds first head transplant next month is to reveal how it will be done.

Dr Sergio Canavero says he has the ability to sever the head of Valery Spiridonov and re-attach it to a healthy body.

The 31-year-old computer scientist from Russia is wheelchair bound and suffering from a degenerative disease called Werdnig-Hoffmann disease.

Dr Sergio Canavero has revealed how he will perform his controversial head transplant operation
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Dr Sergio Canavero has revealed how he will perform his controversial head transplant operationCredit: PA:Press Association Images

The illness is terminal and is a genetic disorder that causes muscles to waste away and motor neurons to die.

He volunteered for the potentially revolutionary operation and is attempting to help fund the £14 million procedure by selling T-shirts, mugs and iPhone covers.

Dr Canavero has named the procedure HEAVEN - an acronym for head anastomosis ventrue - will take 36-hours and involves decapitating both donor and patient.

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The Italian neurosurgeon will then use a glue like substance named polyethylene gylcol to fuse Valery's head to the donor body.

Valery said: ‘If you want something to be done, you need to participate in it.

"I do understand the risks of such surgery. They are multiple.

"I’m afraid that I wouldn’t live long enough to see it happen to someone else."

Valery Spridonov, who suffers from a degenerative disease, has volunteered to have the £14 million procedure performed on him
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Valery Spridonov, who suffers from a degenerative disease, has volunteered to have the £14 million procedure performed on himCredit: Corbis
Dr Canavero says he will sever the heads of the donor and patient and then reattach the patient's head to the new body with a special glue
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Dr Canavero says he will sever the heads of the donor and patient and then reattach the patient's head to the new body with a special glueCredit: PA:Press Association Images

After the spinal cords are fused Valery's muscles and circulatory systems will be stitched up before he his placed into a month long coma to recover.

Some critics have blasted Dr Canavero's plan as "pure fantasy" saying he has oversimplified the procedure.

But the Italian believes the procedure could revolutionise medicine giving paralysed people the ability to walk again and people to transport their ever older heads onto younger bodies.

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