Pig kidney still functioning in brain-dead man 6 weeks after transplant surgery: ‘Extremely encouraging’
Fox News
A pig kidney is still functioning correctly more than six weeks after surgeons at NYU Langone transplanted the organ into the body of a brain-dead man. Doctors shared thoughts on the development.
After he was "declared dead by neurologic criteria," the man was placed on supportive measures to keep his heart beating, the release stated. His family agreed to donate his body because his organs were not suitable for transplant. "From what we are seeing, this kidney is doing all the jobs that a normal human kidney would do." "We know this has the potential to save thousands of lives, but we want to ensure the utmost safety and care as we move forward." Amy McGorry is a contributing health writer for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.
"All signs are pointing in a positive direction with the kidney’s ability to function just as a normal human kidney would," Dr. Philip Sommer, a critical care anesthesiologist and system director for organ donation at NYU Langone's Transplant Institute, told Fox News Digital.
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