In a groundbreaking medical feat, Chinese doctors have successfully performed the world's first live pig liver transplant into a human patient! 🙌 The surgery took place at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in east China's Anhui Province.
The 71-year-old patient, battling a massive liver tumor, received a pig liver that was genetically modified with 10 gene edits. Just seven days post-surgery on May 17, he was up and walking, showing no signs of organ rejection. The transplanted liver is functioning like a champ, secreting about 200 milliliters of bile daily! 💪
"This marks a genuine xenogeneic pig liver transplant into a living person, paving the way for full liver transplants in the future," said Dr. Sun Beicheng, the chief surgeon and hospital president. He believes this success brings new hope to liver cancer patients worldwide. 🌍
Why Pigs? 🐖
Xenotransplantation, or transplanting organs between species, has been a long-standing dream for doctors due to the shortage of human organs. Pigs are seen as ideal donors because their organ sizes and anatomy are similar to humans. But challenges like organ rejection and hidden viruses have been hurdles—until now!
A First for China 🇨🇳
While previous pig organ transplants have occurred in the United States, this is China's debut in the field. The surgical team, driven by compassion and urgency, received full consent from the patient and his family before proceeding.
The pig liver used was from an 11-month-old male pig, weighing 32 kilograms, specially cultivated with the necessary genetic modifications. Dr. Sun and his team innovatively transplanted the lobe into the patient's liver cavity, setting new surgical standards for future procedures.
"The surgery provides comprehensive solutions on using immune-suppressing drugs and patient care before, during, and after xenogeneic liver surgery," Dr. Sun added. This breakthrough not only offers hope to patients in dire need but also paves the way for future innovations in organ transplantation. 🎉
Reference(s):
Chinese surgeons ace world's first live pig liver transplant
cgtn.com
