I wonder why an artificial heart wasn't an option here.
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U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
11–20 of 731 posts
Re: U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
#12“The Maryland surgeons used a heart from a pig that had undergone gene-editing to remove a sugar in its cells that’s responsible for that hyper-fast organ rejection.”
So, we need to genetically engineer the animals
Re: U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
#13If a pigs heart was beating in my chest I dont think I would ever be able to relax again
I'm only able to relax when I don't think about my need for a constantly beating heart -- pig or otherwise.
Re: U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
#14I wonder why an artificial heart wasn't an option here.
It seems like those are not quite there yet:
How to Build an Artificial Heart
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/08/how-to-build-a...
Re: U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
#15I wonder why a pig heart rather than one from another primate? The article mentions a baboon heart in an earlier attempt at xenotransplantation with an infant. Is a pig’s heart as, or more, compatible or is it more a matter of availability?
Re: U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
#16I wonder why an artificial heart wasn't an option here.
It seems like those are not quite there yet: How to Build an Artificial Heart https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/08/how-to-build-a...
A bunch of people do have artificial hearts. I'm wondering what about this patient made one not suitable for him.
Re: U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
#17Re: U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
#18The poor guy, not only is he on immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of his days, but he's a new type of walking transgenic disease vector.
Re: U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
#19If a pigs heart was beating in my chest I dont think I would ever be able to relax again
Rest assured that if you were ever in a potential cannibalism scenario, at least a part of you (if prepared appropriately) might taste like bacon.
Re: U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
#20If a pigs heart was beating in my chest I dont think I would ever be able to relax again
I might not be able to eat bacon again.