All articles tagged with #transplant surgery
Richard Slayman, a 62-year-old Massachusetts man who received a kidney transplant from a genetically engineered pig, died from an unexpected cardiac event less than two months after the procedure. An autopsy revealed no signs of kidney rejection or other abnormalities, according to Dr. Tatsuo Kawai of Massachusetts General Hospital.
The use of perfusion, a technique that keeps donated organs alive outside the body, is reshaping organ transplantation by increasing the number of transplants possible and changing the way surgeons operate. This technology has led to a significant increase in the volume of liver, lung, and heart transplants, with some surgical programs experiencing a 30 percent uptick in transplants since its adoption. Additionally, the field is exploring the use of organs from genetically modified animals as potential sources for transplants.
Dr. Gary Gibbon, a pulmonologist diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer, received a groundbreaking double lung and liver transplant after seeing an NBC News report about the innovative procedure. Northwestern Medicine's DREAM Program successfully performed the complex surgery, which had never been done in the U.S. before. Six months after the surgery, Gibbon is cancer-free, demonstrating the potential for more transplant centers to perform similar complex surgeries. His wife credits the media for connecting them with the life-saving treatment, emphasizing the importance of exploring all options when facing dire medical situations.