Surgeons Transplant Pig Kidney Into a Patient, a Medical Milestone
The man continues to improve, doctors said. Organs from genetically engineered pigs one day may make dialysis obsolete.
The man continues to improve, doctors said. Organs from genetically engineered pigs one day may make dialysis obsolete.
Surgeons in Boston have transplanted a kidney
Surgeons in Boston have transplanted a kidney
from a genetically engineered pig into an ailing 62-year-old man
from a genetically engineered pig into an ailing 62-year-old man
the first procedure of its kind.
the first procedure of its kind.
If successful, the breakthrough offers hope to hundreds
If successful, the breakthrough offers hope to hundreds
of thousands of Americans whose kidneys have failed.
of thousands of Americans whose kidneys have failed.
So far, the signs are promising
So far, the signs are promising
Kidneys remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood.
Kidneys remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood.
The new kidney began producing urine shortly after the surgery
The new kidney began producing urine shortly after the surgery
last weekend and the patient’s condition continues to improve
last weekend and the patient’s condition continues to improve
according to physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital
according to physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital
known as Mass General.
known as Mass General.
He is already walking the halls of the hospital and may be discharged soon.
He is already walking the halls of the hospital and may be discharged soon.
The patient is a Black man, and the procedure may have special significance for Black patients, who suffer high rates of end-stage kidney disease.
The patient is a Black man, and the procedure may have special significance for Black patients, who suffer high rates of end-stage kidney disease.