World’s First: Pig Liver Transplant Keeps Patient Alive for 171 Days, Offering New Hope for Organ Shortage

 

Chinese Doctors Make History With Groundbreaking Pig Liver Transplant

In a medical breakthrough that could reshape the future of organ transplants, doctors in China successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig liver into a 71-year-old man, who went on to live 171 days after the procedure. Remarkably, the pig liver functioned inside his body for 38 days, marking a first-of-its-kind success reported in a peer-reviewed journal — the Journal of Hepatology.

This pioneering operation was performed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, led by Dr. Beicheng Sun, who described the achievement as “a turning point in xenotransplantation” — the process of using animal organs in humans.

“Everyone always said liver transplants from pigs were too complex,” Dr. Sun explained. “But this study changes that belief. The liver could be a viable option if we continue improving the genetic modifications.”

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How the Groundbreaking Transplant Was Performed

The patient, suffering from hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and a large liver tumor, had run out of options after chemotherapy failed. When no human donor match was available, doctors decided to transplant a pig liver cloned and genetically modified with 10 edits to reduce immune rejection and infection risk.

During the surgery in May 2024, the medical team removed the man’s tumor and connected the 11-month-old pig’s liver to his remaining liver tissue.

The results were immediate and promising:

• The pig liver turned red and began producing bile, showing it was functioning normally.

• Key liver function indicators improved significantly within 24 hours.

• No signs of inflammation or rejection were detected in the early stages.

Doctors were hopeful — the transplanted organ was helping stabilize the patient while allowing his own liver to recover.

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Challenges, Complications, and Hope for the Future

By the fourth week post-surgery, the man began experiencing heart stress and inflammation linked to the transplant. Doctors adjusted his immune-suppressing medication, but the body began developing xenotransplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy — a condition where tiny blood clots form and damage small blood vessels.

On day 38, the pig liver was surgically removed after doctors confirmed the patient’s native liver had regained enough function. He continued to recover and lived for several more months, ultimately passing away 171 days after the transplant due to gastrointestinal bleeding.

Despite the outcome, experts worldwide hailed the procedure as a massive step forward.

“It’s groundbreaking,” said Dr. Heiner Wedemeyer of Hannover Medical School, who co-authored an editorial on the study. “It opens completely new possibilities for treating patients with acute liver failure who can’t get human donors in time.”

With more than 100,000 people currently waiting for organ transplants in the U.S. alone, and over 9,000 needing livers, this breakthrough offers a potential bridge solution — keeping patients alive until a human organ becomes available or their own liver recovers.

“A pig liver could buy us those critical weeks of survival,” Wedemeyer added. “That’s the difference between life and death for many patients.”

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A Step Toward the Future of Organ Transplantation

This study, published in the Journal of Hepatology, provides crucial insights into the feasibility of pig-to-human liver transplants. It proves that such organs can provide temporary yet effective liver function — potentially bridging the gap in global organ shortages.

Dr. Sun and his team emphasized gratitude toward the patient and his family for their courage.

“Their contribution will help countless others in the future,” Sun said.

As research into xenotransplantation continues, this case stands as a symbol of medical innovation and human hope — showing that the dream of animal organs saving human lives is no longer science fiction, but a rapidly approaching reality.