Daily brief   for adults 50+ Subscribe AM & PM email
50 Plus HubEverything for Everyone 50+
Customize My age is in the: 50s 60s 70s 80+ Text size
‹ Back to Breaking News
health50+

US Man Lives with Transplanted Pig Kidney for 271 Days

Thursday, September 3, 2026 · 1 sources

A man in the US has received a transplanted pig kidney that functioned for 271 days. The transplant was a temporary measure while the man waited for a human kidney transplant.

A medical team in the US successfully transplanted a pig kidney into a man, which functioned for a record 271 days. This procedure was done as a temporary solution while the man waited for a human kidney transplant. The pig kidney was used to keep the man alive and healthy until a human kidney became available. The man's body accepted the pig kidney, and it worked as expected for nearly nine months. This breakthrough has significant implications for the future of organ transplantation. The use of pig kidneys as temporary transplants could help reduce the waiting time for human kidneys and save countless lives. The medical team involved in the procedure is hopeful that this technology will become more widely available in the future. The success of this transplant is a major step forward in the field of organ transplantation and could lead to new possibilities for patients in need of a kidney transplant. The man's case is being studied closely to understand the long-term effects of using a pig kidney as a temporary transplant. Researchers are also working to improve the procedure and make it more accessible to patients. As the medical community continues to learn from this breakthrough, the potential for pig kidneys to be used as temporary transplants is becoming increasingly promising. The record-breaking 271 days that the pig kidney functioned is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the medical team involved. The man's recovery is being closely monitored, and the results of the study will be used to inform future transplant procedures. The use of pig kidneys as temporary transplants has the potential to revolutionize the field of organ transplantation and provide new hope for patients waiting for a human kidney transplant.

The 50+ takeaway: May lead to new organ transplant options.

Go Deeper

How was the pig kidney transplant procedure performed?

The procedure involved transplanting a pig kidney into the man's body, where it functioned as a temporary replacement until a human kidney became available. The medical team used a combination of immunosuppressive drugs and other treatments to prevent the man's body from rejecting the pig kidney.

What are the implications of using pig kidneys as temporary transplants?

The use of pig kidneys as temporary transplants could help reduce the waiting time for human kidneys and save countless lives. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the field of organ transplantation and provide new hope for patients waiting for a human kidney transplant.

How long did the pig kidney function in the man's body?

The pig kidney functioned for a record 271 days, which is nearly nine months. This is a significant breakthrough in the field of organ transplantation and demonstrates the potential for pig kidneys to be used as temporary transplants.

What are the next steps for this technology?

Researchers are working to improve the procedure and make it more accessible to patients. The medical community is also studying the long-term effects of using a pig kidney as a temporary transplant to inform future transplant procedures.

Could this technology be used for other types of organ transplants?

While the current research focuses on kidney transplants, the use of pig organs as temporary transplants could potentially be applied to other types of organ transplants in the future. However, more research is needed to explore this possibility.