Riuscito il primo xenotrapianto. Si apre una nuova era.

Xenotransplantation, transplants performed thanks to donors other than humans, in this case from a pig to a human.

In the past, these types of procedures have always failed due to complications. In fact, after just a few minutes, an immune reaction inevitably occurred that damaged the new organ.

To overcome the various complications, but also the size of the pig's heart, it was decided to use a genetically modified heart.

The innovative procedure was carried out on January 7, after an 8-hour operation, by a team of doctors from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (USA). 

The patient who underwent the experiment is 57 years old and was suffering from a very severe form of arrhythmia that would have left him with no chance in a short time.

A few days after the transplant, the prognosis is still uncertain, the new heart is still assisted by the heart-lung machine. The heart is performing well and rejection, for now, is under control with immunosuppressive drugs, which are also experimental.

In Italy there are more than 8 thousand young people waiting for an organ, a wait that often exceeds three years, and not everyone can afford to wait three years.

Specifically, the average wait for a new heart is three years and seven months.

Let's wish David Bennett the best of luck and pay tribute to our colleagues who assist him 24 hours a day.