HEALTH

US Surgeons Successfully Carry Out Pig Kidney Transplant Into Human

A groundbreaking medical procedure took place in Boston, where surgeons successfully transplanted a kidney from a genetically engineered pig into a 62-year-old man who needed a transplant, the New York Times reports.

If the breakthrough is successful, it could bring hope to people who are suffering from kidney failure.

According to the New York Times report, the indications are encouraging so far.

Physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, known as Mass General, have reported that the patient’s condition is steadily improving since the surgery last weekend.

The patient, Mr. Richard ‘Rick’ Slayman of Weymouth, Mass., is recovering well at MGH and is expected to be discharged soon, as stated on the hospital’s website on Thursday.

“The real hero today is the patient, Mr Slayman, as the success of this pioneering surgery, once deemed unimaginable, would not have been possible without his courage and willingness to embark on a journey into uncharted medical territory. As the global medical community celebrates this monumental achievement, Mr. Slayman becomes a beacon of hope for countless individuals suffering from end-stage renal disease and opens a new frontier in organ transplantation,” said Joren C. Madsen, MD, DPhil, Director of the MGH Transplant Center.

The new kidney has already started producing urine, which is an encouraging sign of progress.

Slayman is currently moving around the hospital and could be released shortly.

According to Dr Winfred Williams, an associate chief of the nephrology division at Mass General and the patient’s primary kidney doctor, a new source of kidneys “could solve an intractable problem in the field — the inadequate access of minority patients to kidney transplants.”

A medical director for kidney transplantation at Mass General, Dr. Leonardo V. Riella, said the widespread use of genetically modified animal kidneys for transplantation could render dialysis unnecessary.

The transplant programme was developed by Mass General Brigham, the hospital’s parent organisation.

More than 800,000 individuals in the United States suffer from kidney failure, necessitating dialysis as a crucial procedure to eliminate toxins from their bloodstream.

Sponsored

There is a significant demand for transplanted kidneys, with over 100,000 individuals currently waiting to receive one from a living or deceased donor.

In addition, tens of millions of Americans have chronic kidney disease, which can lead to organ failure.

Although dialysis is crucial for sustaining life, the most effective treatment is an organ transplant.

The Nigerian Senate, last Thursday, urged the Federal Government to broaden the scope of the National Health Insurance Scheme to include individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease.

The Senate’s resolutions came about after Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central) sponsored a motion during Tuesday’s plenary.

According to Yar’Adua’s presentation, 25 million Nigerians suffer from renal illnesses, according to new data from the Nigerian Association of Nephrology.

Surgeons at the University of Maryland had successfully performed heart transplants on two patients with heart disease, using hearts from genetically modified pigs.

Despite the organs functioning well and showing no signs of rejection, both patients, who were suffering from advanced disease, passed away shortly after.

PUNCH

SPONSORED
Alex Enemanna

A print journalist with vast knowledge of political developments in Nigeria. Passionate about equity and fairness through robust developmental journalism.

Recent Posts

Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Not Responsible For Hunger, Stampede — FG

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned politicians against linking stampedes…

1 hour ago

Ohafia Community In Mourning As Trailer Crushes Many Christmas Travelers To Death (Photos, Video)

Ohafia, Abia State, was plunged into mourning on Sunday following a tragic accident involving a…

1 hour ago

After 25 Years, Democracy Yet To Meet Citizen’s Expectations — Bugaje

An Islamic scholar and political activist, Dr. Usman Bugaje, has highlighted the inability of the…

7 hours ago

Tinubu’s 2025 Budget Full Of Unrealistic Expectations, Says SDP’s Adebayo

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general elections, Prince…

9 hours ago

VP Shettima Saddened Over Stampedes That Killed Dozens Of People, Says It’s National Tragedy

Vice President Kashim Shettima has mourned the victims of the recent tragic stampedes that claimed…

9 hours ago

Yuletide: NACA Urges Nigerians To prioritize Their Health, Know Their HIV Status

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has advised Nigerians to prioritize their health…

11 hours ago