This compares to another group of 24 patients, who did not receive the surgical operation, where only three died.

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In 1867, Joseph Lister performed the first surgical operation under antiseptic conditions on his sister Isabella, at Glasgow's Royal Infirmary in Scotland.

CNN: Wednesday,

But Stephen Dorrell MP, chair of the Health Select Committee, told the Today programme's Sarah Montague when there is a clinical need for the faulty implant to be removed, making the woman go through a second surgical operation is "bad medicine".

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"Despite his delicate state of health following the complex surgical operation on 11 December, over the past few days the general medical evolution has been favourable and the president is strictly following medical treatment, " said Information Minister Ernesto Villegas, reading from a statement.

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Dr Jon Jones, who led the surgical team that carried out the operation, said existing drugs could be used to fight off rejection.

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Phillip Sommerich had an ileostomy operation 18 months ago - a surgical procedure which links the end of the small intestine to an opening in the abdomen, and began to receive calls from suppliers who asked him whether it was time for him to order more equipment.

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