A 54-year-old grandmother from New Jersey, Lisa Pisano, who was battling end-stage kidney disease and heart failure, underwent a groundbreaking medical procedure. Facing the challenge of organ shortages and health complications, Pisano wasn't eligible for a traditional human heart and kidney transplant.
Expressing her desire for a better quality of life, Pisano was determined to explore alternative options. After being ruled out for a human transplant and facing limited time, she and her family discussed the possibility of receiving a gene-edited pig kidney. Supported by her devoted husband, Pisano sought this unconventional solution.
In a pioneering surgery conducted by NYU Langone Health surgeons in New York, Pisano underwent a two-stage procedure. On April 4, she received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to support her failing heart. Subsequently, on April 12, she underwent a successful gene-edited pig kidney transplant, augmented with a pig's thymus gland to reduce the risk of organ rejection.
Nearly two weeks following the procedure, Pisano has shown no signs of organ rejection.
Lead surgeon Robert Montgomery expressed awe at the scientific advancements that enabled them to save Pisano's life. Speaking on April 24 when NYU Langone Health announced the achievement, Montgomery highlighted the societal impact, emphasizing the quest to provide lifesaving organs to all in need.
Having previously performed the world's first gene-edited pig kidney transplant in 2021, Montgomery sees Pisano's surgery as a significant step toward eliminating the need for individuals to wait for organ donors.
Pisano joins Richard Slayman, 62, who underwent a pig kidney transplant in Boston in March, as one of the pioneers in this medical breakthrough. While Slayman holds the title of the world's first pig kidney transplant recipient, Pisano stands as the first to receive both a pig kidney transplant and a heart pump.
"This groundbreaking approach marks the first instance globally where LVAD surgery has been performed on a dialysis patient, with a subsequent plan for kidney transplantation," explained Nader Moazami, chief of NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Division of Heart and Lung Transplantation.
"The ultimate measure of success lies in offering Lisa a chance at a better quality of life and providing her with more time to cherish moments with her family," Moazami added.
Expressing her hopes for her mother's recovery, Pisano's daughter, Brittany Harvill, eagerly anticipates her mother's return home to spend precious moments with her grandchildren.
"After witnessing my mother post-surgery for the first time, and even this morning," shared Harvill, as reported by the New York Post, "I can say she appears and sounds the healthiest she's been in years."
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