Surgeons in the US state of Maryland have successfully implanted a pig's heart into a man.
The heart was genetically modified and given to the transplant patient as a last clutch of life.
Doctors at the University of Maryland medical centre gave an update on Monday evening and said that the patient was doing well three days after the experimental procedure.
Despite not immediately rejecting the heart, doctors have warned it is too soon to know if the operation has been entirely successful.
The patient, 57-year-old David Bennett, works as a handyman in Maryland and says he knew there was no guarantee the operation would work.
Medics confirmed that he had terminal heart disease and was ineligible for a human heart transplant.
In a statement released by the medical centre, Bennett said “It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice.”
The U.S. FDA granted emergency authorisation for the surgery on New Year’s Eve through its expanded access (compassionate use) provision.
It is used when an experimental medical product is the only option available for a patient faced with a serious or life-threatening medical condition.
The authorization to proceed was granted in the hope of saving the patient’s life.
Speaking after the surgery, Bartley P. Griffith, MD, who surgically transplanted the pig heart into Mr. Bennett said: “This was a breakthrough surgery and brings us one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis.
“There are simply not enough donor human hearts available to meet the long list of potential recipients.
“We are proceeding cautiously, but we are also optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide an important new option for patients in the future.”
On Monday, it was reported that Bennett was breathing on his own while still connected to a heart-lung machine to help his new heart.
The next few weeks will be crucial as Bennett recovers from the surgery and doctors carefully monitor how his new heart is doing.
