Breakthrough transplant surgery: Heart pump and gene-edited pig kidney combined

• Groundbreaking procedure: Surgeons at NYU Langone Health successfully performed the first-ever surgery combining a mechanical heart pump and a gene-edited pig kidney transplant.
• Patient profile: Lisa Pisano, a 54-year-old woman from New Jersey, was the recipient of this groundbreaking surgery. She faced heart and kidney failure, with no viable options for traditional human organ transplants due to her complex medical history.
• Life-saving potential: This innovative procedure presents a lifeline for patients like Pisano, offering them the opportunity for improved quality of life and extended survival.

• Leadership: Dr. Robert Montgomery, MD, DPhil, led the transplant surgery as the H. Leon Pachter, MD, Professor of Surgery, Chair of the Department of Surgery, and Director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute.
• Collaborative Effort: The success of this surgery was made possible by the collective expertise of physicians, researchers, nurses, and healthcare teams at NYU Langone Health.

There is an urgent need for innovative solutions like xenotransplantation with over 104,000 people on the waiting list for organ transplants. The solution offer hope to those in critical condition. Pisano received a kidney from a pig that was genetically engineered to reduce the risk of rejection, showcasing the potential of xenotransplantation in addressing the organ shortage crisis.

NYU Langone Health looks forward to participating in clinical trials under FDA guidance to further explore the potential of xenotransplantation as a sustainable solution to the organ shortage crisis.

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: NYU Langone Transplant Institute