Boston Hospital Successfully Transplants Pig Kidney into Human Patient
For the first time in medical history, surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have performed a groundbreaking procedure by transplanting a pig kidney into a living human patient.
This historic surgery, announced by Mass General on Thursday, marks a significant advancement in the field of organ transplantation.
The recipient of the pig kidney is 62-year-old Rick Slayman from Weymouth. Following the surgery, Slayman is currently recovering well at Mass General and is expected to be discharged soon.
Slayman was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease prior to undergoing the transplant.
Nationwide Organ Shortage
Mass General described the procedure as a "major milestone" in addressing the nationwide shortage of organs available for transplantation.
Statistics from the United Network for Organ Sharing reveal that over 100,000 individuals in the United States are currently awaiting organ transplants. Tragically, an average of seventeen people die each day while waiting for a suitable donor organ, as reported by the organization.
"Mass General Brigham researchers and clinicians are constantly pushing the boundaries of science to transform medicine and solve significant health issues facing our patients in their daily lives," said Anne Klibanski, president and CEO of Mass General Brigham. "Nearly seven decades after the first successful kidney transplant, our clinicians have once again demonstrated our commitment to provide innovative treatments and help ease the burden of disease for our patients and others around the world."
The pig kidney was provided by eGenesis in Cambridge. It was genetically edited to remove harmful pig genes. Certain human genes were then added to improve its compatibility, the hospital said.
Kidney recipient the "real hero"
Joren Madsen, director of the MGH Transplant Center, described Slayman as "the real hero."
Slayman has been living with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension for many years, and received a human kidney transplant in 2018 after seven years of dialysis. About five years later, that kidney showed signs of failure.
With limited options, Slayman was presented with the pros and cons of receiving a pig kidney.
"I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive," Slayman said.
