A man's life has been given a potentially lifesaving pig heart transplant for the first time in a landmark operation.
David Bennett, 57, was given the new heart last week in a final effort to save his life at Maryland Hospital in the USA.
And three days after the operation, he is now “doing well”, doctors have said.
The day before the surgery, Mr Bennett said: “It was either die or do this transplant - I want to live.
“I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice.”
A shortage of human organs being donated meant that this was the only option left for the patient.
Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin, scientific director of the Maryland University’s animal-to-human transplant program said that, if successful in the long term, this will create an “endless supply of these organs for patients who are suffering”.
The organ came from a pig that had undergone gene-editing, to remove a sugar in its cells which causes “hyper-fast organ rejection”.
The operation was approved by the American Food and Drug Administration under “compassionate use emergency authorization”.
The surgery took seven hours, and was performed by Dr Bartley Griffith, who said the patient’s condition — heart failure and an irregular heartbeat — made him ineligible for a human heart transplant or a heart pump.
He said: “We’re learning a lot every day with this gentleman, and so far, we’re happy with our decision to move forward.
“And he is as well, with a big smile on his face.”
David Bennett, 57, was given the new heart last week in a final effort to save his life at Maryland Hospital in the USA.
And three days after the operation, he is now “doing well”, doctors have said.
The day before the surgery, Mr Bennett said: “It was either die or do this transplant - I want to live.
“I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice.”
A shortage of human organs being donated meant that this was the only option left for the patient.
Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin, scientific director of the Maryland University’s animal-to-human transplant program said that, if successful in the long term, this will create an “endless supply of these organs for patients who are suffering”.
The organ came from a pig that had undergone gene-editing, to remove a sugar in its cells which causes “hyper-fast organ rejection”.
The operation was approved by the American Food and Drug Administration under “compassionate use emergency authorization”.
The surgery took seven hours, and was performed by Dr Bartley Griffith, who said the patient’s condition — heart failure and an irregular heartbeat — made him ineligible for a human heart transplant or a heart pump.
He said: “We’re learning a lot every day with this gentleman, and so far, we’re happy with our decision to move forward.
“And he is as well, with a big smile on his face.”
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