The second recipient has passed away.
Surgeons at NYU Langone Health announced on Tuesday that Lisa Pisano, aged 54, has passed away, becoming the second person to receive a kidney from a genetically modified pig. Pisano, who suffered from both kidney and heart failure, underwent the pig kidney transplant on April 12, shortly after having a mechanical heart pump implanted eight days earlier.
Unfortunately, complications arose when inadequate blood flow related to the heart pump led to damage of the pig kidney, necessitating its removal on May 29. Despite resuming kidney dialysis afterward, Pisano later entered hospice care and passed away on Sunday, as confirmed by her doctors to the New York Times.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, praised Pisano’s bravery and noted her significant impact on the field of xenotransplantation, highlighting how her case provided hope to thousands facing end-stage kidney or heart failure.
Pisano made medical history by becoming the first recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney while using a heart pump, a procedure typically deemed high-risk for patients with kidney failure. The first patient to undergo this experimental procedure was Richard Slayman, aged 62, who received a genetically modified pig kidney at Mass General Brigham in Boston in March. Despite being discharged two weeks post-transplant, Slayman faced complex medical issues and passed away within two months.
Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of animal organs into humans, remains in the experimental stages. Current practices only permit such procedures for patients who are critically ill and ineligible for human organ transplants, under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s compassionate use program.
These recent transplants underscore ongoing efforts to explore alternative organ sources for patients in dire need, pushing the boundaries of medical science while navigating the complexities and risks associated with xenotransplantation.
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