The second individual to undergo a heart transplant using a pig’s heart has passed away, nearly six weeks following the groundbreaking procedure, Maryland doctors reported on Tuesday.
58-year-old Lawrence Faucette, who had been battling heart failure and was not a candidate for a conventional heart transplant, was implanted with the genetically modified pig heart on September 20. For the first month post-surgery, the heart functioned well, but signs of rejection emerged in the days leading up to Faucette’s death on Monday.
Ann Faucette, Lawrence’s wife, stated that her husband was acutely aware of the limited time he had left. “He took this opportunity not only for himself but in hope of benefiting others. His survival beyond our expectations was a testament to his resilience,” she commented.
This isn’t the first time the University of Maryland has ventured into this experimental realm. Last year, the medical team transplanted a heart from a genetically modified pig into David Bennett, who survived for two months before heart failure ensued. Evidence of a pig virus was later discovered in the transplanted organ. The insights gained from Bennett’s case influenced modifications to the procedure, including enhanced virus screening, before Faucette’s transplant.
Dr. Bartley Griffith, who headed the transplant procedure at the University of Maryland Medical Center, mentioned that Faucette wished for the medical community to benefit from his experience and further the advancement of such experimental procedures.
Historically, xenotransplants, or animal-to-human organ transplants, have been unsuccessful due to the immediate rejection of the foreign tissue by the human immune system. However, in light of recent technological advancements, scientists are revisiting the approach, with genetically modified pigs at the forefront.
Faucette, a Navy veteran and a father from Frederick, Maryland, turned to the Maryland hospital after being declined a traditional heart transplant. Despite the challenges, his primary goal was to gain a few more precious moments with his family.