A New Jersey woman has become the second person in the world to receive a kidney transplant from a genetically modified pig. Lisa Pisano, 54, underwent the groundbreaking procedure and is now experiencing improved health and quality of life. The kidney and thymus gland, also from the pig, are functioning optimally, providing hope that she can return home and enjoy time with her family.
In a groundbreaking medical advancement, a 54-year-old grandmother named Lisa Pisano has successfully received the first-ever combined transplant of a gene-edited pig kidney and a mechanical heart pump. The innovative procedure, performed by surgeons at NYU Langone Health, offers hope to individuals facing end-stage organ failure and a shortage of human organ donations. Pisano, who suffers from both end-stage kidney disease and heart failure, was not a candidate for a traditional heart and kidney transplant due to her complex medical conditions. However, the combined pig kidney and heart pump transplant has provided her with a new lease on life.
In a historic medical breakthrough, a terminally ill patient named Lisa Pisano has become the first person in the world to receive a gene-edited pig kidney and a mechanical heart pump. The groundbreaking procedure, performed by surgeons at NYU Langone Health, offers hope for resolving the critical organ shortage and expanding treatment options for patients facing end-stage organ failure. The patient, who was not eligible for a human transplant due to pre-existing medical conditions, underwent two separate surgical procedures nine days apart. The first surgery involved the implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), a mechanical pump that assists in blood circulation. Days later, the patient received the genetically modified pig kidney and pig thymus gland, which aids the immune system in preventing organ rejection. The successful integration of the pig kidney and LVAD marks a significant step forward in the field of xenotransplantation, raising the prospect of using animal organs to address the dire need for human organ transplants. The procedure has been met with optimism within the medical community, with experts expressing hope that it will pave the way for more life-saving organ transplants and reduce the mortality rate associated with organ waiting lists.
