The First Pig Heart Transplant Patient Died Two Months After The Surgical Procedure

The latest human to undergo a heart transplant from a genetically modified pig died two months following the surgical procedure, according to the medical center that performed the transplant.

As shown in a statement from University health Services, “David Bennett, 57, with heart problems, received his transplant on 7th of January, 2022, and died on 8th of March, 2022.”

Bennett went into surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in January (UMSOM).

However, the hospital reported on Tuesday that David Bennett had died. His health had been worsening for the last several days, according to medics, although no specific mortality has been determined.

Before getting the pig heart that had been genetically engineered, Bennett required mechanical assistance to survive, but instead was turned down for a basic heart transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center and also other hospitals.

But there was a reason for celebration when the transplantation of a pig’s heart claimed to rescue Mr. Bennett’s existence. Mr. Bennett claimed to be improving for weeks, and indeed the Maryland medical institution kept track of his newest actions. The hospital uploaded a video showing him watching the Super Bowl and barely singing together with the national anthem in late February.

The transplanted pig heart worked admirably for a few weeks after surgery, showing no symptoms of rejections. Bennett was able to spend some time with his relatives while also participating in physical therapy that helps him restore his health.

Before the January transplantation, the patient had been admitted to the hospital and bedridden over several months, relying on such a heart-lung bypass system to sustain life.

The patient, who has been stated to be struggling with life-threatening arrhythmia, was left with no other alternative except to undergo a heart transplant.

According to his medical information, he was judged unsuitable for standard heart surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) and other prominent transplantation centers.

The patient explains, “It could either pass away or just do the surgical operation.” I’d like to survive. I realize it’s a risk, but it is my final option. I’m eager to even get out of bed once I’ve recovered.” Before even the procedure, Bennett stated.

 He was provided appropriate medical treatment when it was evident that he’d never survive, but he was able to interact with his relatives throughout his dying moments.

Condolences and contributions of Bennett before his death.

He was provided appropriate medical treatment when it was evident that he’d never survive, but he was able to interact with his relatives throughout his dying moments.

“Mr. Bennett’s death has left us heartbroken. But he also was a valiant and heroic man that fought through till the end. We express our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.” Bartley P. Griffith, MD, the primary surgeon who performed the transplant, said in a message.

MuhammadM.Mohiuddin,theMD,directorofthecardiacxenotransplantationprogramatUniversityofMarylandSchoolofMedicinepraisedthedeceasedforhisdistinctiveandhistoricalsignificanceroleincontributingtoawiderangeofreasoningtotheresearchareaofxenotransplantation,”whichistheprocedureoftransplantingorgansystemsamongvariousorganisms.

Bennett survived significantly longer with such a genetic mutation pig heart than Baby Fae, a sickly California infant who survived 3 weeks with a baboon’s heart in 1984, amongst the most significant xenotransplantation accomplishments.

One such time, specialists removed pig genes that cause hyper-fast rejections and replaced them with human ones to help the body tolerate the transplant.

On December 31, 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration gave emergency approval for the operation under its extended accessibility (sympathetic care) provision in the interest of saving the person’s life.

Comments from Doctors

“This groundbreaking surgery gets us one step closer to understanding the organ shortage situation,” said Bartley Griffith, director of the medical center’s heart transplant unit, who also performed the procedure.

He was reported as saying, “There might be certainly not quite sufficient donor human hearts ready to match the enormous list of potential receivers.”

The medical center announced in a statement three days after the surgical procedure that “the experimental treatment revealed for the very first time that a genetically engineered animal heart may operate as a human heart without instant rejections by the body.”

“We have learned priceless information knowing that now the genetically engineered pig heart may operate well inside the human body while the immune response is appropriately subdued,” Mohiuddin added, using Bennett as an illustration.

“This is the very first moment a pig organ was already implanted into a person, so we’ll be capable of answering numerous queries raised after thoroughly reviewing the data.” Several new pieces of knowledge will be released, which will help the subject advance more quickly.”

“We remain hopeful,” he stated, “and we want to continue our research in clinical studies.”

Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health, a transplant specialist who underwent his heart transplant, remarked, “This would be the first approach into new territory.” As researchers at many transplant hospitals arrange the initial clinical studies, “a vast amount of knowledge” will assist in the following phases. This was a remarkable achievement that he survived for two months and was able to spend time with his relatives,” Montgomery remarked.

Words from David Bennett’s son

 Bennett’s son, David Jr., commended the hospital for performing the surgical procedure to preserve his father’s life and then said his family believed it really would help resolve a transplant organ shortage.

Bennett’s son also thanked the “amazing doctors” at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical Center for giving his dad a “better chance of survival.”

Bennett Jr. said, “We were able to spend several valuable periods together when he managed to recover from the transplant procedure, weeks we might not have had if it hadn’t been for this extraordinary endeavor.”

“We certainly hope that this report gained from his procedure will be useful to future patients.””And maybe, one day, we will be able to put an end to the organ scarcity that claims so many lives every year,” he stated.

Comments on the Procedure outcome

The methodology sparked optimism that enhanced cross-species organ transplants might one day focus on solving the persistent lack of human organ systems readily accessible for donation, and the team actually behind it remains positive about the operation’s prospects.

“Understanding that the genetically engineered pig heart may operate properly inside the body system when the human body is appropriately subdued has given us vital knowledge.”

“We remain hopeful,” said Muhammad Mohiuddin, general manager of the university’s cardiac xenotransplantation program. “We intend to continue our work in clinical studies.”

The next challenge would be whether researchers have learned not enough from Bennett’s experiences and other recent studies with gene-edited pig organs to encourage the FDA to permit a research study with an organ that is not instantly devastating if it malfunctions, such as a kidney.

The demand for additional organs is enormous. Last year, over 41,000 transplants were conducted in the United States, a new high, including roughly 3,800 heart transplants. However, over 106,000 people remain on the global waiting list, hundreds die each year before receiving an organ, and countless more are never even placed on the list because it is regarded as too risky.