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Man Successfully Kept Alive with Pig Kidney for 271 Days Until He Could Receive a Human One
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- Tim Andrews received a genetically modified pig kidney in a pioneering xenotransplantation surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in January 2025, marking the longest successful functioning of a pig kidney in a human at 271 days.
- After nine months with the pig kidney, Andrews became the first patient to receive a human donor kidney following a pig kidney transplant, highlighting a significant medical milestone.
- The pig kidney initially functioned well for six months before failing, after which Andrews underwent dialysis briefly before his human kidney transplant in January 2026.
- Doctors view xenotransplantation as a potential solution to the critical shortage of human organs, serving as a temporary "bridge" to keep patients alive while they await human donor kidneys.
- Medical experts emphasize the importance of patient participation in early-stage xenotransplantation studies, acknowledging their role in advancing this innovative field toward safer and more durable treatments.
