David Bennett Sr., Recipient of First Genetically Modified Pig Heart, Passes Away at 57
David Bennett Sr., a Maryland man who made history as the first patient to receive a genetically modified pig heart, passed away just two months after his pioneering transplant surgery, his hospital reported. In January, the 57-year-old underwent the experimental operation at the University of Maryland Medical Center after being deemed unsuitable for a traditional human heart transplant. For several weeks following the surgery, the heart kept Bennett alive, producing normal heart functions, including a steady pulse and adequate pressure.
David Bennett Sr., a Maryland man who made history as the first patient to receive a genetically modified pig heart, passed away just two months after his pioneering transplant surgery, his hospital reported. In January, the 57-year-old underwent the experimental operation at the University of Maryland Medical Center after being deemed unsuitable for a traditional human heart transplant. For several weeks following the surgery, the heart kept Bennett alive, producing normal heart functions, including a steady pulse and adequate pressure.
Dr. Bartley Griffith, who directed the cardiac transplant program, previously expressed cautious optimism about the procedure’s initial success, though he acknowledged the unpredictability of long-term outcomes. “It’s working and it looks normal,” Dr. Griffith remarked soon after the surgery, adding that they remained uncertain about what lay ahead. The case, though ending in Bennett’s passing, marks a significant milestone in medical science, paving the way for future advancements in xenotransplantation.Dr. Bartley Griffith, who directed the cardiac transplant program, previously expressed cautious optimism about the procedure’s initial success, though he acknowledged the unpredictability of long-term outcomes. “It’s working and it looks normal,” Dr. Griffith remarked soon after the surgery, adding that they remained uncertain about what lay ahead. The case, though ending in Bennett’s passing, marks a significant milestone in medical science, paving the way for future advancements in xenotransplantation.
