Richard “Rick” Slayman, aged 62, successfully underwent a groundbreaking pig kidney transplant performed by Dr. Tatsuo Kawai. The surgery, which lasted four hours, marks the first instance of a living human receiving a pig kidney. Dr. Kawai anticipates the kidney to function for at least two years, with dialysis as a fallback if needed. This milestone in xenotransplantation, utilizing animal organs for human recipients, signifies a significant advancement in medical science, particularly for the over 100,000 individuals on the national transplant waiting list, most of whom await kidney transplants. Recent progress, notably with genetically modified pigs, has enhanced the feasibility of such procedures, addressing previous challenges related to immune rejection. This achievement opens new possibilities for patients in need of transplants, expanding beyond previous applications like skin grafts and heart valve implants.
Man gets a new kidney from a pig in groundbreaking surgery
