Doctors have inserted a pig heart into a 58-year-old patient at Baltimore University Hospital. This is only the second time worldwide that a xenotransplantation – i.e. the transfer of animal organs to humans – has been carried out. The man was threatened with death due to heart failure. He is not eligible for a traditional transplant due to other health problems.
The organ was genetically modified to prevent rejection reactions. However, the first patient to undergo such surgery died about two months after the procedure. But Lawrence Faucette happily accepted this risk: “At least now I have hope and a chance,” the heart patient explained in a video recorded by the hospital on Wednesday before the operation. “I will fight with all my might for every breath I can get.”
“We have no expectations other than that we have more time”
Two days after the operation, Faucette could already sit in a chair and make jokes. The heart works well without being connected to machines. He breathes on his own and can also talk to family and friends. At Faucette’s side is his wife Ann: “We have no expectations other than hoping for more time together. “It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, like sitting on the porch together and having coffee,” she explained.
The second attempt to transplant a pig’s heart required special permission, as did Faucette’s. Although it is not yet entirely clear why the first patient with this type of xenotransplantation died, researchers say they have learned a lot from the first operation. After the procedure, signs were found that a virus might be lurking in the false heart. We now have better tests to find these. In addition, some changes have been made to the medication.
Faucette is even ‘healthier’ than the first patient
Another key difference from the second surgery: Faucette suffered from end-stage heart failure, but was not as close to death as the previous patient. “It’s just an incredible feeling to see this pig’s heart working on a human,” explains Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin, the Maryland team’s xenotransplantation expert. However, he warned against too much optimism: “We don’t want to predict anything. We will take every day as a victory and move forward.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
