On Monday, Lawrence Faucette, the second person to receive a genetically modified pig heart transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center, passed away after showing signs of organ rejection. Faucette, a 58-year-old Navy veteran, had undergone the experimental procedure in September and lived for nearly six weeks following the surgery. Family members said he was grateful to contribute to medical research and spent his final days with loved ones playing cards.
Faucette’s surgery, performed by Dr. Bartley Griffith and Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin, was only the second of its kind in history. The first patient to receive a transplanted pig heart, David Bennett, died two months after the January 2022 procedure from heart failure. As with Bennett, researchers and doctors plan to extensively analyze Faucette’s experience to improve the procedure for future patients.
The surgery was conducted through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s “compassionate use” process, which allows for experimental medical products when there are no other options for a serious or life-threatening condition. Both Faucette and Bennett were ineligible for traditional heart transplants due to their advanced medical conditions.
🔥🚨DEVELOPING: Lawrence Faucette, 58, was the second person in the world to undergo a pig heart transplant. He passed on Monday making him share the same fate as the last patient who received a pig’s heart. pic.twitter.com/bVDBxaxdxA
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) November 3, 2023
Despite the risks associated with xenotransplantation, the use of organs or tissues from an animal donor into a human recipient has the potential to save thousands of lives. Approximately 110,000 Americans are currently waiting for an organ transplant, and over 6,000 die each year before receiving one.
The pig heart used in Faucette’s surgery was genetically modified to reduce the chances of rejection and prevent excessive tissue growth. Additionally, he was treated with anti-rejection drugs and an experimental antibody therapy designed to suppress his immune system. However, his heart began to show signs of rejection in recent days, which is the biggest challenge for transplant patients.
In a statement included in a news release from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Ann Faucette, Lawrence’s wife, described him as a man who always thought of others. She said that while he started the journey with an open mind and complete confidence in his surgical team, he knew that his time was short. He had never imagined he would survive as long as he did or provide as much valuable data to the xenotransplant program.
Dr. Christine Lau, surgeon-in-chief at the University of Maryland Medical Center and chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, called Faucette and his family “our heroes of today.” She emphasized that it takes “Herculean efforts” to move the transplant field forward, and Faucette’s contribution will continue to impact future patients and their families.
In a final statement, Faucette’s family expressed their gratitude to the medical team and their immense pride in him. Ann Faucette said her husband will continue to be remembered as a selfless man who left a lasting impact on their lives.
