Patient who received genetically-modified pig's heart in historical transplant surgery dies after two months

 

The first person in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically-modified pig has died

Surgeon Bartley P Griffith pictured with David Bennett earlier this month

A 57-year-old Maryland man named David Bennett who received a gene-modified  pig's heart in first-of-its-kind transplantsurgery died on 8 March, two months after the groundbreaking experiment.  

The cause of David Bennett’s death wasn't immediately disclosed, and doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center didn't say whether it was connected to any complications from the transplant, just saying, "his condition began deteriorating several days ago". The hospital  performed the surgery on January 7,  2022.

"His condition began deteriorating several days ago. After it became clear that he would not recover, he was given compassionate palliative care. He was able to communicate with his family during his final hours," the university stated.

The transplanted heart performed very well for several weeks without any sign of rejection, which showed a hope for organ transplant from animal to human and to solve the chronic shortage of organ donation.

Dr Griffith said previously- "the surgery would bring the world one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis"

Pig heart

He was deemed ineligible for human transplant,

57 years old Bennett with terminal heart disease, came to the hospital in the eastern US state of Maryland in October 2021. He was bedridden and placed on an emergency life support machine. He had been deemed ineligible for human transplant, a decision that is often taken when the recipient has very poor underlying health.

"He proved to be a brave and noble patient who fought all the way to the end. We extend our sincerest condolences to his family," said surgeon Bartley Griffith, who performed the transplant, said in a statement released by the hospital.

He had already been bedridden for six weeks leading up to the surgery, attached to a machine which was keeping him alive.

For Bennett, the procedure was his last option.

But his condition deteriorated, leaving doctors "devastated".

But Mr Bennett's son, David Jr, said he hoped his father's transplant would "be the beginning of hope and not the end", according to news agency AP.

"We are grateful for every innovative moment, every crazy dream, every sleepless night that went into this historic effort," he added.

"Before consenting to receive the transplant, Mr. Bennett was fully informed of the procedure's risks, and that the procedure was experimental with unknown risks and benefits," the hospital said.

On Dec. 31, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted an emergency authorization for the surgery in the hope of saving his life.