World’s First Pig Lung Transplant Successfully Performed in Human Body

Scientists at Guangzhou Medical University in China have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig lung into a human body, marking the first verified case of its kind worldwide.

The transplanted lung was placed into the body of a brain-dead patient, where it remained functional for nine consecutive days without being rejected by the immune system. Researchers described this as a revolutionary step in the field of organ transplantation.

According to the Daily Mail, previous attempts involving pig hearts and kidneys in human recipients had shown some promise, but none had achieved similar success with lungs, which are considered far more fragile and complex due to their constant exposure to external air and toxins.

To prepare for the procedure, scientists carried out extensive genetic modifications on the donor pig before extracting its left lung. The organ was then implanted into the deceased patient’s body while life-support systems maintained partial function of the heart and lungs. The transplanted lung remained viable for 216 hours, equivalent to nine full days.

The results, published in the prestigious journal “Nature Medicine”, highlight the potential of genetically engineered animal organs to ease the critical global shortage of human donor organs. Experts hailed the success as a milestone that could reshape the future of transplantation medicine.

However, researchers cautioned that significant challenges remain before such procedures can be trialed in living patients. Major obstacles include managing the high blood flow through the lungs and preventing long-term immune rejection.

While clinical application may still be years away, this breakthrough demonstrates that xenotransplantation, the use of animal organs in human bodies, is moving closer to becoming a viable solution to the global organ crisis.