A pig kidney transplanted into a US patient functioned for a record 271 days, offering a potential bridge for those awaiting human organ donations.
Key facts
- •The pig kidney functioned for 271 days, setting a new record for xenotransplantation.
- •The procedure was performed by a medical team at Mass General Brigham hospital.
- •Approximately 100,000 people in the US are currently waiting for a kidney transplant.
- •Only 25,000 kidney transplants are performed in the US each year.
- •The patient, Tim Andrews, received a human donor kidney after the pig organ failed.
Doctors at Mass General Brigham hospital have reported that a kidney transplanted from a pig functioned inside a patient for 271 days. This duration marks the longest period on record for such a procedure. The patient, Tim Andrews, received the organ as a temporary measure while awaiting a human transplant.
By the numbers
Patient experience and medical context
Tim Andrews, who required the transplant due to a shortage of available human organs, described the procedure as a source of hope that allowed him to avoid frequent hospital visits for dialysis. He noted that he had been told it could take seven years to reach the top of the human transplant list, while the average life expectancy for patients on dialysis is five years. Ultimately, the pig organ failed and was removed. Following the removal, Andrews underwent a short period of dialysis before receiving a human donor kidney.
Addressing organ shortages
Medical professionals are researching xenotransplantation—the use of organs from other species—to address the critical shortage of human organs. In the United States, approximately 100,000 people are currently on waiting lists for kidney transplants, while only 25,000 such procedures are performed annually. In the United Kingdom, more than 7,000 people are currently waiting for a kidney transplant.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Health.
