Man who received a pig heart transplant dies two months after the operation

David Bennet, the man known for becoming the first person in the world to receive a heart transplant from a genetically modified pig, has died this Monday, March 8, at the age of 57. This was reported by the University of Maryland Medical Centerwhere the operation took place, on January 11: “He proved to be a brave patient and nobleman who fought to the end,” said surgeon Bartley Griffith, who performed the transplant.

Bennett, who suffered from terminal heart disease before his surgery, led a relatively normal life in the two months following his surgery. However, in recent days, as detailed in the note, his health began to seriously deteriorate, leaving the doctors involved in this process “devastated” by the evolution of their patient. The victim was aware of the risks associated with this surgery and recognized before the procedure that he did not have everything with him.

“It was die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last option“, assured Bennett at the time, moments before undergoing this complex operation. The United States Food and Drug Administration was the body that authorized the operation, shortly before the New Year, upon learning that Bennett was bedridden for months.The patient finally underwent surgery on January 7.

The victim’s family was also aware of the dangers of this treatment. “My father was on his deathbed. We were told this was highly experimental. That she might not survive, live a couple of days. We are in unknown territory, “explained his son shortly after the transplant. According to the experts involved in this process, Bennett spent the weeks after the transplant spending time with his family.

Despite this result, the truth is that the initial success of the operation opened the door to a new field in the field of transplants with animal organs, a process that could solve the long waiting lists in the US and the rest of the world. to receive a healthy organ. Specific, About 110,000 Americans are currently waiting for an organ transplant.and more than 6,000 patients die each year before receiving one, according to official data cited by the University of Maryland.