The second woman to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant in New Jersey passed away three months ago. The patient, named Lisa Pisano, underwent the procedure in April. Moreover, the procedure was an experiment for severe illness. However, the pig’s organ had to be removed after 47 days.
The 54-year-old woman was the first to receive a heart transplant and a pig kidney transplant after both failed. Moreover, although patients with a heart pump are not ideal candidates for a new kidney, the doctors went ahead with the procedure anyway.
After the kidney was transplanted into the recipient’s body, the doctors reported that the organ was not rejected. Indicating successful modifications. However, due to the patient’s heart pump not being able to supply sufficient blood, the kidney failed.
Consequently, the surgeons at NYU who performed the surgery decided to remove the organ after less than seven weeks, further putting Pisano on dialysis. She passed away after.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of NYU Langone Transplant institute said,
Lisa’s contributions to medicine, surgery and xenotransplantation cannot be overstated,
Her bravery gave hope to thousands of people living with end-stage kidney or heart failure who could soon benefit from an alternative supply of organs.
Pisano passed away just two months after the first patient received a modified kidney. Richard Slayman underwent the surgery at Mass General Brigham in Boston in March. Although the initial signs showed a successful implant, the patient experienced complications and died in May.
