World’s First: Woman Receives Combined Pig Kidney Transplant and Heart Pump Implant
A US woman has made medical history by undergoing a pig kidney transplant and having a mechanical heart pump surgically implanted. Lisa Pisano’s heart and kidney failure made her ineligible for a traditional transplant. The 54-year-old from New Jersey became the first woman to receive a genetically-modified pig kidney, becoming only the second patient to do so. Doctors at NYU Langone Transplant Institute in New York implanted a mechanical heart pump to keep her heart beating and later transplanted the pig kidney, marking a world first.
Pisano, who was at a critical stage in her illness, took the chance on the experimental procedures. She expressed hope that even if it didn’t work for her, it could benefit others in the future. Her husband Todd expressed relief at seeing her smile again after the surgeries.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of NYU Langone Transplant Institute, shared the success of the surgeries, with the pig kidney immediately producing urine. Pisano is reportedly recovering well, though Dr. Nader Moazami, the cardiac surgeon who implanted the heart pump, cautioned that challenges still remain.
The surgeries, which occurred within eight days, required emergency authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration, as Pisano’s case represents a novel approach to addressing the organ transplant shortage. The potential of genetically-modified pig organs offers hope for those on transplant waiting lists, particularly for kidney patients.
Biotech companies are working on developing pig organs that are less likely to be rejected by the human immune system, paving the way for animal-to-human transplants. Pisano’s case adds to the growing body of research exploring this novel approach to transplantation.
Ms Pisano is said to be recovering well. Pic: AP
On a global scale, medical experts are monitoring Pisano’s progress closely, acknowledging the potential impact of her groundbreaking surgeries.
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The success of Pisano’s case highlights the potential of animal-to-human organ transplantation as a viable solution to the organ shortage crisis.
