China performs first ever combined transplant of pig liver and kidney to human

In a world first, a Chinese medical team has successfully transplanted a pig's liver and kidneys into a brain-dead 53-year-old man. The groundbreaking xenotransplantation procedure, detailed in the journal Med, saw the animal organs function within the recipient for nearly five days before the study was terminated at the family's request.

The operation, led by researchers from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, provides initial evidence for the feasibility of transplanting whole pig livers and kidneys into human recipients in the correct anatomical position, known as orthotopic transplantation.

Xenotransplantation, the transfer of organs or tissues between different species, holds significant promise for addressing the critical global shortage of donor organs. This shortage often leaves patients waiting for life-saving transplants in a state of uncertainty or facing dire outcomes. The study also identified early immune and metabolic responses, which could be crucial for refining future clinical applications of animal-to-human organ transplants.

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This study provides initial evidence for the feasibility of pig-to-human orthotopic whole liver plus bilateral kidney transplantation.