Richard Slayman, 62, underwent a pig kidney transplant in the US last March. Less than two months later, his family and the hospital where he operated on declared him dead on Saturday, May 11.
The first living patient transplanted with a pig’s kidney has died in the United States two months after the operation, American media reported on Saturday, May 11, citing the hospital and relatives of the deceased patient.
The medical team who operated on him expressed deep sadness on learning of the patient’s death and extended condolences to his family, the press release said. ABC News. He notes that he has not received any information indicating that his death could be related to the transplant.
“Our family is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our beloved Rick, but comforted knowing that he inspired so many,” his loved ones said. NBC Boston.
“We felt — and still feel — Rick’s story as millions of people around the world desperately await a transplant,” they promise.
“The tremendous efforts (of doctors) to perform a xenotransplantation (transplantation of an organ from a donor whose biological race is different from the recipient author’s note) gave our family an additional seven weeks with Rick, and the memories made during it. A time that will live on in our minds and hearts,” they still wish.
He was suffering from chronic renal failure
Richard Slayman received a genetically modified kidney transplant last March at a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Doctors said the four-hour operation went well.
They hoped the graft would work for at least two years, but the patient ultimately did not survive that long.
At the age of 62, the American suffered from chronic kidney failure. He received his first kidney transplant in 2018, but this attempt failed and he had to continue his treatment with dialysis. Then problems arose. The doctors then suggested that he should undergo a pig kidney transplant.
“Giving hope to thousands”
With this operation, doctors hoped to find an answer to the long-standing shortage of organ donations, with the life expectancy of many patients shortened.
Before Richard Slayman, kidneys from genetically modified pigs had already been transplanted into brain-dead humans and worked. Two living patients have already received heart transplants from transgenic pigs. Then all died.
“I saw this as a way to not only help me, but to give hope to the thousands of people who need life-saving transplants,” the patient said in a press release after the operation.
More than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ transplant. Kidney is the most commonly needed organ.
Highly educated people
“Web specialist. Infuriatingly humble coffee ninja. Wannabe zombie advocate. Subtly charming tv fanatic. Avid social media scholar.”