American surgeons have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a living patient for the second time, who simultaneously received a heart pump, in a joint procedure that marks a significant milestone in this rapidly advancing field. Animal organ transplants into human bodies, known as xenotransplantation, represent a potential solution to the chronic shortage of organ donors, offering hope to tens of thousands of people on the waiting list. The new operation was announced yesterday, Wednesday, by NYU Langone Health. Dr. Robert Montgomery, who performed the kidney transplant, stated in a press conference: "We have newly combined two wonders of modern medicine." He described the procedure as "an important new step toward ensuring the availability of vital organs for everyone who needs them."
The patient, Lisa Pisano, 54, who underwent the procedure, was suffering from heart and kidney failure, and it was not feasible to implant a heart pump for her due to the very high mortality rate among those undergoing dialysis and pump transplant surgeries. However, she also had levels of antibodies that could have made her wait for years to have a chance to receive a human kidney.
