Surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Centre (UMMC), United States have performed a second successful transplant of a genetically modified pig heart on a 58-year-old patient, Lawrence Faucette, with end-stage heart disease.
Faucette received the pig heart transplant on 20 September.
The first historic surgery, performed in January 2022, was conducted on David Bennett by the University of Maryland Medicine surgeons.
The two groundbreaking surgeries were performed by the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Faculty at the university.
This transplant was the only option available to him because of his pre-existing peripheral vascular disease and complications with internal bleeding.
A statement on the website of UMSOM, however, said that Faucette is now breathing on his own and his heart is functioning well without any assistance from supportive devices.
Dr Bartley Griffith, who surgically transplanted the pig heart into both the first and second patients at UMMC, said, “We are incredibly grateful to Mr Faucette for his bravery and willingness to help advance our knowledge of this field.
“We are hopeful that he will get home soon to enjoy more time with his wife and the rest of his loving family.”
Reacting, the patient, Faucette, said, “My only real hope left is to go with the pig heart, the xenotransplant.
“Dr Griffith, Dr Mohiuddin, and their entire staff have been incredible, but nobody knows from this point forward. At least now I have hope, and I have a chance”.
