The world's first pig heart transplant patient has died

The University of Maryland Medical Center (USA) said on March 9 that a 57-year-old man in Maryland died after a period of performing the world's first genetically modified pig heart transplant.

Specifically, David Bennett passed away on March 8 after his health began to deteriorate a few days ago, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. He received palliative care and was able to talk to his family during the last moments of his life.

Mr. Bennett has end-stage heart disease and had a pig heart transplant on January 7. He is not eligible for a conventional heart transplant or an artificial heart pump. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a pig heart transplant was seen as the only option at the time.

Previously, the transplanted pig heart had worked well for several weeks without any signs of rejection. Mr. Bennett was able to spend time with his family and attend physical therapy to help regain his health. He also watches football with his physiotherapist and often talks about wanting to return home.

Before the transplant, Mr Bennett said: 'Either go or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's conjecture but it's my last choice.

In fact, surgery to transplant organs from animals to humans is a method that has been around for a long time. Many doctors have experimented with blood injections and animal skin grafts on patients. In the 1960s, a number of patients received chimpanzee kidney transplants, but the longest lived only 9 months. In 1984, a newborn baby received a heart transplant from a baboon. However, the girl did not survive after 20 days.