On Wednesday, Lisa Pisano, a 54-year-old found new hope through an innovative medical treatment involving a pig’s kidney and a mechanical heart. NYU Langone Health performed a successful transplant surgery, marking the first time a patient underwent this particular combination procedure.
Lisa, who battled heart and end-stage kidney diseases, faced deteriorating health and a diminishing life expectancy, as reported by Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health.
Dr. Nader Moazami, the chief of the Division of Heart and Lung Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, emphasized the significance of this unprecedented medical feat. Surpassing all prior attempts, this unique approach not only enhances Lisa’s quality of life but also extends her time with family. The successful surgery, led by Dr. Robert Montgomery, Chairman of the Department of Surgery at NYU Langone Health, opens doors to hope and possibilities for millions suffering from end-stage organ diseases across the nation.
Lisa Pisano’s husband, Todd Pisano, revealed that the simplest of tasks left his wife breathless, casting a shadow over her daily routine. Breaking new ground in medical history, doctors conducted the surgery in two stages, initiating with the heart pump implantation on April 4th, followed by the groundbreaking transplant involving a gene-edited pig kidney and thymus gland on April 12th.