Lawrence Faucette Got a New Heart from a Pig, But It Didn’t Last Long

Lawrence Faucette was a 58-year-old Navy veteran and father of two who had a very sick heart. He needed a new one, but he couldn’t get one from a human donor. He was too sick to qualify for the waiting list, and there were not enough hearts available anyway.

BREAKING: Lawrence Faucette, the second person to receive a genetically engineered pig heart transplant, passed away after six weeks. https://t.co/tP2CJwJrF1

— WIRED (@WIRED) October 31, 2023

So he agreed to try something new and risky: getting a heart from a pig. The pig had been specially bred to have some human genes in its DNA, so that its heart would be more compatible with Lawrence’s body. The doctors also checked the pig for any viruses that could harm humans.

The surgery took place on September 20, 2023, at the University of Maryland Medical Center. It was only the second time in the world that someone had received a pig heart transplant. The first one was in January 2022, but the patient died two months later.

At first, Lawrence seemed to be doing well. He could breathe on his own, and his new heart was working fine. He could talk to his family and friends, and do some physical exercises. He was grateful for the extra time he got, and he hoped that his experience would help other people who needed new organs.

But then things went wrong. His body started to reject the pig heart, and he died on November 1, 2023, six weeks after the surgery. The doctors were very sad, and they said they would learn from what happened to improve the procedure for future patients.

Lawrence was not just a patient, but also a scientist. He understood the importance of his contribution to the field of xenotransplantation, which is the name for using animal organs in humans. He wanted to help solve the problem of organ shortage, which affects thousands of people who are waiting for a transplant.

But not everyone agrees with using animal organs in humans. Some people think it is wrong to use animals for this purpose, and that it causes them pain and suffering. Some people also have religious or spiritual reasons to oppose it.

The debate is likely to continue as more research is done and more data is collected. The ultimate goal is to find a way to save lives and reduce suffering for those who need new organs.

Xenotransplantation: A Possible Solution for Organ Shortage

Xenotransplantation is the process of transplanting cells, tissues or organs from one species to another, such as from animals to humans. It is considered as a potential solution for the shortage of human organs for transplantation, which affects thousands of people who are waiting for a life-saving procedure. However, xenotransplantation also poses many challenges and risks, such as rejection, infection, ethical and social issues. In this article, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks of xenotransplantation, and how it can impact the future of medicine and society.

The Promise of Saving Lives

One of the main benefits of xenotransplantation is that it can offer life-saving solutions to extend the life of a person who is on a human transplant list long enough. On average, seventeen people die each day in the United States waiting for an organ transplant. Finding other sources for organs is critical to save lives.

Xenotransplantation can also reduce the opportunities on the black market for organ donations, which is a huge problem that involves exploitation, coercion and crime. People from third-world countries often sell their kidneys to agents who then barter with people with enough money to buy such organs for their own use. Using organs from animals, instead of those donated by humans, can end this type of trade.

The Progress of Research and Technology

Xenotransplantation is an experimental treatment that has not been perfected yet. It is only allowed in extremely rare and serious cases. The FDA has not yet allowed clinical trials to begin. These trials will be important to show if this procedure is truly safe and effective.

However, many studies have been done in animals over the past several decades. Most of these studies transferred pig organs into baboons, because they have a genetic makeup that is very close to humans. These studies showed that transplanting organs across animal species is possible.

Pigs are the most promising source of animal organs for humans, because they are widely available, have similar organ sizes to humans, and have a low risk of transferring disease. The pigs used for this procedure are raised in a laboratory for this purpose. Their genes are edited to better match human genes, using gene editing techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9. This helps lower the risk of rejection in humans.

The Challenges and Risks of Xenotransplantation

Xenotransplantation also poses several challenges and risks, such as:

• Rejection: The human immune system may attack and destroy the new organ, causing inflammation, infection and organ failure. The person receiving the xenotransplant will still need to take anti-rejection medications.
• Infection: The animal organ may carry viruses or bacteria that could infect the human recipient or spread to other people. This is a public health concern because it has the potential to introduce new infections to humans.
• Ethical: The use of animal organs in humans may raise ethical concerns about animal welfare, human dignity, religious beliefs and social justice. Some people think it is wrong to use animals for this purpose, and that it causes them pain and suffering. Some people also have religious or spiritual reasons to oppose it.

The Future of Xenotransplantation

Xenotransplantation is a controversial and complex issue that challenges us both as human beings and in our relationship to animals. It should be discussed among broader society, with respect for different opinions and perspectives. The ultimate goal is to find a way to save lives and reduce suffering for those who need new organs.

FAQs

Q: Who was Lawrence Faucette?

A: Lawrence Faucette was a 58-year-old Navy veteran and father of two who had a very sick heart. He needed a new one, but he couldn’t get one from a human donor. He was too sick to qualify for the waiting list, and there were not enough hearts available anyway. So he agreed to try something new and risky: getting a heart from a pig. He was only the second person in the world to receive a pig heart transplant. He died six weeks after the surgery, but he contributed to the scientific research on xenotransplantation.

Q: What is xenotransplantation?

A: Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another. It is considered as a potential solution for the shortage of human organs for transplantation.

Q: How are pigs genetically modified for xenotransplantation?

A: Pigs are genetically modified by inserting human genes into their DNA using gene editing techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9. These genes are meant to make the pig organs more compatible with the human immune system and prevent rejection. Some examples of these genes are CD46, CD55, CD59, HLA-E and THBD.

Q: What are the risks of xenotransplantation?

A: Xenotransplantation poses several risks, such as:

Rejection: The human immune system may attack and destroy the pig organ, causing inflammation, infection and organ failure.

Infection: The pig organ may carry viruses or bacteria that could infect the human recipient or spread to other people.

Ethical: The use of animal organs in humans may raise ethical concerns about animal welfare, human dignity, religious beliefs and social justice .

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