Pig’s heart
The University of Maryland Medical Center reported the passing of Lawrence Faucette, a 58-year-old man suffering from terminal heart disease, who received the world’s second genetically modified pig’s heart transplant.
Mr. Faucette underwent the groundbreaking procedure on September 20 and sadly succumbed on October 30.
Due to his advanced medical conditions, including peripheral vascular disease, he was not eligible for a human heart transplant. While the pig heart transplant initially functioned well, it started to exhibit signs of rejection in the days leading up to his passing.
Dr. Bartley P. Griffith, the surgeon who performed the transplant, expressed his condolences and described Mr. Faucette as an exceptional patient, scientist, Navy veteran, and devoted family man who simply desired more time with his wife, sons, and loved ones.
This experimental procedure is part of a growing field of research focused on advancing cross-species transplants, known as xenotransplants, involving animal organs that have been genetically modified to reduce the risk of rejection in humans. These endeavors aim to address the shortage of human organ donors, which currently affects more than 100,000 individuals in the United States alone.
The first individual to receive a gene-edited pig heart transplant was David Bennett Sr in January 2022, conducted by the same medical team. He passed away after two months, with his poor health condition prior to the operation and the discovery of a viral infection in the organ contributing to his death.
Muhammad Mohiuddin, the program director for cardiac xenotransplantation, commended Mr. Faucette’s contribution to scientific knowledge and stated their intention to perform a comprehensive analysis to identify preventable factors in future transplants.
In recent years, doctors have transplanted kidneys from genetically modified pigs into brain-dead patients, with some cases showing promising results. Pigs are considered ideal organ donors for humans due to their organ size, rapid growth, large litters, and their existing use as a food source.
