A man in the United States has lived for a record 271 days with a transplanted pig kidney, the BBC reports, while he waits for a human transplant.
Key facts
- A US man lived a record 271 days with a transplanted pig kidney.
- That period amounts to roughly nine months.
- The patient received the pig kidney while awaiting a human transplant.
- The milestone was reported by the BBC.
A man in the United States has lived for a record 271 days with a transplanted pig kidney, according to the BBC. The period, amounting to roughly nine months, marks a new milestone in the field of animal-to-human transplantation.
The BBC reports that the man received the pig kidney while he was waiting for a human transplant. The procedure was intended to sustain the patient during that wait rather than serve as a permanent replacement.
The 271-day figure represents a record duration for a functioning transplanted pig kidney in a human recipient, based on the reporting.
Beyond these details, additional information about the patient, the medical team and the wider procedure was not provided in the available source material.
The case adds to ongoing efforts to explore whether organs from animals could help address shortages of human organs available for transplant.
Why it matters
Organ shortages leave many patients waiting long periods for a suitable human transplant. A pig kidney functioning for a record nine months suggests animal organs could one day help bridge that gap, though the details reported here are limited.
Frequently asked questions
How long did the pig kidney function?
According to the BBC, the transplanted pig kidney worked in the man's body for a record 271 days, roughly nine months.
Why did the man receive a pig kidney?
The BBC reports he received the pig kidney while waiting for a human transplant.
Is this a permanent solution?
The reporting indicates the pig kidney was used while the man awaited a human transplant, not described as a permanent replacement.