NJ woman who received a pig kidney transplant plus a heart pump has died

Lisa Pisano was near death from kidney and heart failure when surgeons at NYU Langone Health performed the dramatic pair of surgeries in April.

Associated Press

Jul 9, 2024, 10:16 PM

Updated 15 days ago

Share:

A woman who received a pig kidney transplant -- along with an implanted device to keep her heart beating – has died, her surgeon announced Tuesday.
Lisa Pisano was near death from kidney and heart failure when surgeons at NYU Langone Health performed the dramatic pair of surgeries in April.
The New Jersey woman initially seemed to be recovering well but about 47 days later, doctors had to remove the pig kidney and put Pisano back on dialysis after the organ was damaged by her heart medications.
Despite the dialysis and implanted heart pump, Pisano eventually entered hospice care and died Sunday, NYU Langone transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Montgomery said in a statement.
Montgomery praised Pisano’s bravery for attempting the latest pig organ-to-human experiment, what’s called xenotransplantation. The research aims to one day shore up the dire shortage of transplantable organs.“
Lisa helped bring us closer to realizing a future where someone does not have to die for another person to live,” Montgomery said. “She will forever be remembered for her courage and good nature.”
Back in April, the 54-year-old Pisano told The Associated Press that she knew the pig kidney might not work but “I just took a chance.
Pisano was the second patient ever to receive a kidney from a gene-edited pig.
The first, Richard “Rick” Slayman, received his transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital and died in early May, nearly two months later.
His doctor has said he died of preexisting heart disease, not as a result of the transplant.
More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant waiting list, most who need a kidney, and thousands die waiting. Several biotech companies are genetically modifying pigs so their organs are more humanlike, less likely to be destroyed by people’s immune systems.
In addition to the two pig kidney experiments, the University of Maryland also transplanted pig hearts into two men who were out of other options; both died within months.
Still, what doctors learned from those attempts, along with research in donated bodies, have them hoping to begin formal clinical trials sometime next year with patients who aren’t quite so sick.


More from News 12
0:15
Police sources: Perth Amboy officer shot in Rahway

Police sources: Perth Amboy officer shot in Rahway

1:53
STORM WATCH: Cloudy skies with sporadic showers for New Jersey

STORM WATCH: Cloudy skies with sporadic showers for New Jersey

0:22
Biden agrees to assemble Presidential Emergency Board to help end NJ Transit labor dispute

Biden agrees to assemble Presidential Emergency Board to help end NJ Transit labor dispute

1:46
Lead chunks wash up along Keyport shore

Lead chunks wash up along Keyport shore

1:35
Manchester police release 911 calls made by woman who was shot by boyfriend

Manchester police release 911 calls made by woman who was shot by boyfriend

2:12
Gov. Murphy facing time crunch in decision for Menendez replacement

Gov. Murphy facing time crunch in decision for Menendez replacement

0:20
U.S. attorney: British citizen pleads guilty to child porn possession, intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct

U.S. attorney: British citizen pleads guilty to child porn possession, intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct

1:50
Lead pipe replacements for thousands finally begins in Paterson

Lead pipe replacements for thousands finally begins in Paterson

1:38
What are the dog days of summer?

What are the dog days of summer?

0:15
Officials: Hudson County man gets 45 years in prison for 2018 homicide

Officials: Hudson County man gets 45 years in prison for 2018 homicide

1:13
 Water main break halts Route 37 traffic in Toms River

Water main break halts Route 37 traffic in Toms River

1:39
Newark Liberty International Airport travelers still impacted by worldwide outage days later

Newark Liberty International Airport travelers still impacted by worldwide outage days later

0:34
Authorities identify driver killed in Route 3 truck crash and explosion in Clifton

Authorities identify driver killed in Route 3 truck crash and explosion in Clifton

0:56
Attorney General's Office: Driver was person who died in East Orange multivehicle crash

Attorney General's Office: Driver was person who died in East Orange multivehicle crash

2:06
Union City residents react to news Sen. Menendez is resigning

Union City residents react to news Sen. Menendez is resigning

0:18
NJ man faces up to 5 years in prison for stealing air conditioners from shopping center

NJ man faces up to 5 years in prison for stealing air conditioners from shopping center

1:26
Son finds his mom stabbed to death in their Edison home; suspect charged with murder

Son finds his mom stabbed to death in their Edison home; suspect charged with murder

2:10
July 24, 2024 drought details and comparison for New Jersey, New York

July 24, 2024 drought details and comparison for New Jersey, New York

0:31
Prosecutors: Palisades Park police officer arrested for assaulting woman multiple times, child endangerment

Prosecutors: Palisades Park police officer arrested for assaulting woman multiple times, child endangerment

1:46
Jersey Shore deli owner, infectious disease doctor explain how to keep safe from listeria amid outbreak

Jersey Shore deli owner, infectious disease doctor explain how to keep safe from listeria amid outbreak