Just a few weeks after the world’s only second transplant of a pig heart as a replacement organ, the 58-year-old recipient died. After the surgery on September 20, Lawrence Faucette, who suffered from an incurable heart disease, initially made significant progress.
However, in recent days his heart has shown the first signs of rejection. Despite all efforts, he died on October 30, University Hospital in Baltimore announced on Tuesday. “We mourn the loss of Mr. Faucette, a remarkable patient, scientist, Navy veteran and family man who simply wanted to spend more time with his loving wife, sons and family,” said Surgeon General Bartley Griffith.
“He knew his time with us was short”
Ann Faucette, the wife of the deceased patient, said, “He knew his time with us was short and that this was his last chance to do something for others.” Her husband never thought he would last this long or that a transplant program would yield so much. facts.
The first patient, 57-year-old David Bennett, also had such an organ implanted in January 2022 at University Hospital in Baltimore. After the operation, the seriously ill man’s condition was initially relatively stable, but then deteriorated rapidly. The man died about two months after the transplant.
Pig hearts are particularly suitable
So-called xenotransplantation – the transfer of animal organs to humans – has been researched since the 1980s. Pigs are considered particularly suitable as donors because their metabolism is comparable to that of humans.
The biggest challenge, even with human organs, is getting recipients’ bodies to accept the organs, according to University Hospital in Baltimore.
Source: Krone
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