Second Recipient Of Pig Heart Transplant Passes Away — Wished Doctors To 'Make The Most' Of What They Learned

In the latest news related to medical advancements, the second person to undergo a pig heart transplant has passed away, prompting further inquiry into the field of xenotransplants.

What Happened: The patient, Lawrence Faucette, 58, passed away nearly six weeks following the groundbreaking surgery, his doctors in Maryland reported. Faucette, who was suffering from heart failure and was ineligible for a regular heart transplant, received the genetically modified pig heart on Sept. 20. The heart initially seemed healthy, but signs of rejection began to appear recently, according to the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Faucette’s last wish was that the knowledge gained from his experience would contribute to medical advancements. “Mr. Faucette's last wish was for us to make the most of what we have learned from our experience,” said Dr. Bartley Griffith, the surgeon leading the transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

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Why It Matters: The concept of xenotransplants, or organ transplants from animals to humans, is not new. However, previous attempts have repeatedly led to failure due to the recipient’s immune system rejecting the foreign organ. The recent experiments involving genetically modified pig organs mark a renewed effort in this direction.

The Maryland team’s first attempt at a xenotransplant last year ended in tragedy when the recipient, David Bennett, passed away two months after the procedure. That experience, however, led to enhancements in the process, including improved virus testing prior to Faucette’s surgery.

The potential of xenotransplantation is significant, particularly considering the current severe shortage of human organ donations. Over 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list, and thousands are likely to die while waiting for a suitable organ.

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