Pig kidney transplanted into man for first time ever at Massachusetts General Hospital

BOSTON – For the first time ever, surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston transplanted a pig kidney into a living human patient.

Mass General said Thursday the procedure was the first successful procedure of its kind in the world.

The kidney recipient was identified as 62-year-old Rick Slayman of Weymouth. He is recovering well at Mass General and the hospital expects him to be discharged soon.