World's first man to receive Pig kidney transplant dies after two months
Richard Slayman, who was the world’s first recipient of genetically modified pig kidney transplant, has died two months later.
This report was confirmed by the hospital where the man had successfully undergone pig kidney transplant before dying after two months of the operation.
Richard Slayman, 62, was suffering with end-stage kidney disease before undergoing the operation in March,
According to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) on Sunday, there was no sign or diagnosable indication of his death resulting from the recently carried-out kidney transplant.
Transplants of other organs from genetically modified pigs have failed in the past, but the operation on Mr Slayman was hailed as a historic milestone, BBC said.
In his medical history, Mr Slayman had his first human kidney transplant in 2018, which did not last him after five years; and he also was suffering from Type 2 diabetes and hypertension before his death.
A report says his doctors confirmed after the kidney transplant on 16 March that he no longer needed dialysis seeing that the new organ was functioning perfectly.
“Mr Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation ,” MGH said in a statement.
The medical term, Xenotransplantation, refers to the process of transplanting organs, tissues or living cells from one species ( human or animal) to another.
Massachusetts General Hospital said Mr Slayman’s operation was to “provide hope for thousands of people” and it is “that he had to die”.
It condoles with his his family and relatives, who also spoke well of his courage.
“Rick said that one of the reasons he underwent this procedure was to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive,” said the hospital.
“Rick accomplished that goal and his hope and optimism will endure forever.
“To us, Rick was a kind-hearted man with a quick-witted sense of humour who was fiercely dedicated to his family, friends, and co-workers,” they added.
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Mr Slayman, although he is not the first human to have had a pig kidney transplant, would remain the only person whose pig kidney transplant was successful outliving others who died just some weeks after their separate operations.
