Towana Looney, 53, is off of kidney dialysis after undergoing a xenotransplantation procedure at NYU Langone Health on November 25. She was discharged from the hospital on December 6, and her doctors say she is in good health. This surgery is the latest in a series of similar procedures involving the transplantation of organs from one species to another. More than 103,000 people in the United States are on the waiting list for a transplant, with the majority needing a kidney.
With human donor organs in short supply, some researchers are exploring the use of pigs as a potential source. 'I am overjoyed,' Looney said at a press conference Tuesday morning. 'I’m blessed to have received this gift, a second chance at life.' Earlier this year, surgeons carried out pig kidney transplants in living people for the first time. In March, 62-year-old Richard Slayman made history when he received a kidney from a genetically engineered pig at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was discharged from the hospital and was initially doing well, but he died nearly two months after the transplant. In a statement released by the hospital, his medical team said there was no indication that his death was the result of his transplant. In November, Slayman’s surgeon said his death was caused by an 'unexpected cardiac event,' and there was no sign that his body had rejected the organ. In the second attempt, this April, 54-year-old Lisa Pisano received both a kidney and thymus gland from a genetically engineered pig after getting a mechanical heart pump implanted days prior. The addition of the thymus, a small organ in the upper chest that’s part of the immune system, was meant to help prevent rejection. That surgery was also performed at NYU Langone. But 47 days after the transplant, her doctors elected to remove the pig kidney following several episodes of the heart pump not being able to pass enough blood through her new kidney
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Alabama Woman Receives Pig Kidney Transplant, Free from DialysisTowana Looney, a 53-year-old woman from Alabama, has successfully received a pig kidney transplant, marking a significant milestone in xenotransplantation. This groundbreaking procedure has freed her from eight years of dialysis.
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Woman Receives Pig Kidney Transplant, Marking Milestone in XenotransplantationTowana Looney, a 53-year-old woman, received a pig kidney transplant, ending her eight years of dialysis. This groundbreaking surgery is considered a significant step towards using animal organs for human transplantation. Doctors expect Looney to make a full recovery and return home in three months. This historic procedure marks an important step in xenotransplantation research, with formal studies expected to begin next year.
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Woman Receives Pig Kidney in Historic TransplantTowana Looney, 53, became the first person to receive a pig kidney transplant and was freed from eight years of dialysis. The experimental procedure, led by Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health, is a significant step towards formal xenotransplantation studies expected to begin next year. Looney is recovering well and doctors anticipate her full return home in three months.
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An Alabama woman is doing well after the latest experimental pig kidney transplantAn Alabama woman received a pig kidney transplant last month and is free from dialysis for the first time eight years. Towana Looney is the fifth American given a gene-edited pig organ in a quest to make animal-to-human transplants a reality. Importantly, she wasn’t as sick as prior patients who received pig kidneys or hearts.
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Alabama Woman Makes History with Successful Pig Kidney TransplantTowana Looney, a 53-year-old woman from Alabama, has become the fifth American to receive a gene-edited pig kidney transplant, marking a significant milestone in xenotransplantation research. Looney's surgery, conducted at NYU Langone Health, has been hailed as a success, with the patient recovering well and experiencing a renewed sense of hope. This groundbreaking procedure holds immense promise for addressing the critical shortage of human organs for transplantation.
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Pig Kidney Transplant Gives Woman 'New Beginning'Towana Looney, 53, received a pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health, a historic step in xenotransplantation. The surgery, led by Dr. Robert Montgomery, freed Looney from eight years of dialysis. Looney is recovering well and expects to return home to Alabama in three months. This groundbreaking procedure paves the way for formal studies of xenotransplantation expected to begin next year.
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