First person with pig kidney dies two months after transplant

The American who was the first living human to receive a pig kidney died two months after the transplant. This was announced by his family and the hospital that performed the operation.

In March, the pig kidney was inserted into 62-year-old Rick Slayman at Massachusetts General Hospital. He then spoke of one of the happiest moments of his life. The surgeons assumed that the kidney would last about two years. He had previously received a kidney from a human, but that organ no longer worked properly.

The transplant team at the hospital said in a statement that it was “deeply saddened” by Slayman’s death. They offer their condolences to his family for their loss. According to the team, there is no reason to think that he died as a result of the transplant.

Slayman’s family thanks his doctors. “Through their tremendous efforts, they gave our family seven more weeks with Rick. The memories we made during that time will remain in our minds and hearts.”

According to his family, Slayman underwent the surgery in part to offer hope of survival to thousands of patients in the same situation. “Rick achieved that goal and his hope and optimism will always live on.” In the United States, about 100,000 people are on a waiting list for a transplant. The majority are waiting for a kidney, thousands die before their turn.

Previous transplants

Slayman was the first living human to receive a pig kidney. The transplant was previously performed on two brain-dead people. Two people have also received a pig’s heart. They both also died within a few months. The organs were rejected and another patient died from a virus that the pig carried.

In 2018, Slayman already underwent a kidney transplant in the same hospital, but has recently had to go back on dialysis due to complications. This involved several operations per month because he suffered from blood clots. To spare him further suffering, the doctors approved the experimental procedure.