Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital conducted the first-ever transplant of a genetically modified pig kidney into a human.
The milestone four-hour surgery involved 62-year-old Rick Slayman, a patient with end-stage kidney disease.
Organ shortages are a chronic problem around the world, and the Boston hospital said there are more than 1,400 patients on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.
Organ Immediately Produced Urine
Slayman, who previously received a human kidney in 2018, embraced the experimental procedure after facing kidney failure once again in 2023.
The surgery involved connecting the pig kidney’s blood vessels to Slayman’s and was a success as the organ immediately began producing urine.
The medical team, emotionally moved by the breakthrough, described it as a significant milestone in transplantation.
Giant Leap Forward
The surgery offers hope for addressing the critical organ shortage, with experts emphasizing its potential to revolutionize kidney transplantation in the near future.
While further research is needed to assess the long-term efficacy, the successful operation represents a monumental leap forward in medical science.
