At the University of Maryland Medical School, a man in Maryland was successfully transplanted with a genetically modified pig heart.
The 57-year-old man, David Bennett, is doing well three days after receiving the genetically modified pig heart in "first-of-its-kind transplant operation," according to a university statement. Bennett had terminal heart disease and the pig heart was his only choice at the time.
He was declared to be "ineligible" for a traditional heart transplant or an artificial heart pump, according to his medical records. Bennett stated before the surgery that he wanted to live and that the surgery was his only choice. He said, "It was either die or do this transplant." The surgery was performed on Friday, January 7, 2022, and he was found to be in good health three days later.
Three genes responsible for pig organ rejection by human immune systems were deleted from the donor pig to make it possible, according to the statement. Six human genes were then added to ensure immune acceptance.
Bennet will be monitored over the next few weeks to see if the transplant was successful. Another gene was also removed in order to avoid excessive pig heart tissue growth.
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