The second person to receive a transplanted heart from a pig has died, nearly six weeks after the highly experimental surgery, his Maryland doctors announced Tuesday.
Lawrence Faucette, aged 58, who was suffering from heart failure and not eligible for a traditional heart transplant, received a genetically modified pig heart on September 20. The University of Maryland School of Medicine reported that the transplanted pig heart appeared healthy for the first month but began to show signs of rejection in recent days, leading to Faucette’s passing on Monday.
In a statement issued by the hospital, Faucette’s wife, Ann, conveyed that her husband was aware that his time was limited and saw this as his last opportunity to contribute to others. He had not anticipated surviving as long as he did.
This marks the second attempt at a heart transplant from a genetically altered pig by the Maryland team. In the previous attempt, David Bennett received a pig heart and survived for two months before it failed, with the cause not entirely clear, though pig virus signs were later discovered in the organ. Lessons from this initial experiment prompted adjustments, including improved virus testing, before the second transplant was performed.
Dr. Bartley Griffith, the surgeon who led the heart transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center, mentioned that Mr. Faucette’s final wish was for the medical team to make the most of the knowledge gained from their experience.
Efforts to perform animal-to-human organ transplants, known as xenotransplants, have faced setbacks for many years, as the recipients’ immune systems promptly rejected the foreign tissue. Recent attempts are utilizing genetically modified pigs to make their organs more human-like in the hopes of achieving successful transplants. The second person
Lawrence Faucette, a Navy veteran and father of two from Frederick, Maryland, had been deemed ineligible for a conventional heart transplant due to additional health issues. He turned to the Maryland hospital as a last resort, with the hope of spending more time with his family.
In mid-October, the hospital reported that Faucette had made significant progress, being able to stand and engage in physical therapy to regain the strength necessary for walking. His journey offered insights into the potential of xenotransplants while highlighting the challenges that still need to be addressed in this field of medicine.