Lawrence Faucette, the second person to receive a genetically modified pig heart in a groundbreaking transplant, passed away six weeks after the experimental procedure. The University of Maryland Medical Center, where the pioneering surgery took place, confirmed that the pig heart had begun to exhibit signs of rejection.
Dr. Bartley Griffith, the clinical director of the Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program, expressed that Mr. Faucette’s last wish was for their experiences to benefit others in need of a new heart when human organs are scarce. Dr. Griffith and his medical team gathered around Faucette, who expressed his love and gratitude towards them. Faucette’s passing left a significant void, and his legacy as a pioneer in xenotransplantation would be remembered.
Faucette, at the age of 58, had been admitted to UMMC due to heart failure symptoms and received the experimental pig heart transplant after being deemed ineligible for a conventional human heart transplant. His hope for more time with his family rested on this innovative xenotransplant.
During the initial weeks following the surgery, Faucette displayed remarkable progress, participating in physical therapy and spending quality time with his loved ones. Doctors were encouraged by the excellent function of his new heart and had withdrawn heart function support medications. The absence of infections and signs of rejection provided hope, even though organ rejection remained a significant concern.
The medical team had administered experimental treatments to suppress Faucette’s immune system and deter rejection, but the challenge of organ rejection persisted, as it does with traditional human organ transplants.
Ann Faucette, Larry’s wife, expressed gratitude to the medical team at UMMC and highlighted her husband’s determination to embark on this journey, fully trusting Dr. Griffith and his staff. She emphasized that Larry knew his time was limited and saw this as his last opportunity to contribute to the betterment of others in need of life-saving transplants.
The need for organ transplants in the United States is immense, with over 113,000 people on the transplant list, including more than 3,300 in need of a heart. Tragically, 17 individuals die daily while waiting for a donor organ.
In January 2022, the University of Maryland had previously conducted a similar experimental surgery on David Bennett, who unfortunately passed away two months after the surgery. Although the initial weeks showed no signs of rejection, an autopsy revealed that Bennett’s death resulted from heart failure due to various factors, including his condition prior to the surgery. Additionally, a case study in The Lancet noted the presence of previously unidentified pig virus in Bennett’s case.
