Organ transplant breakthrough as pig's kidney survives in body of brain dead ... trends now
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A pig's kidney has been transplanted into a brain dead man where it survived for two months in a breakthrough for the future of organ transplant surgeries.
The genetically engineered kidney was observed in the body of 58-year-old Maurice Miller for 61 days before it was removed, life support switched off and the body handed back to the family.
The study, which is the longest-documented case of its kind, gives new hope to the future of organ supply to those desperately in need of a transplant.
It was the fifth xenotransplant carried out by the team at New York University's Langone Transplant Institute, which took place on July 14.
It was removed on September 13 from Mr Miller who had been on a ventilator, with his family's consent, after being declared brain dead. He had collapsed but because he was suffering from cancer was unable to donate his organs.
A pig's kidney has been transplanted into the body of 58-year-old Maurice Miller (pictured), who is brain dead man where it survived for two months
The genetically engineered kidney (pictured) was observed in the body of Mr Miller for 61 days before it was removed
Dr Robert Montgomery, who carried out the surgery, was himself the recipient of a heart transplant.
He said: 'We have learned a great deal throughout these past two months of close observation and analysis, and there is great reason to be hopeful for the future,.
'None of this would have been possible without the incredible support we received from the family of our deceased recipient.
'Thanks to
