In a groundbreaking achievement for modern medicine, surgeons at UCLA Health and Keck Medicine of USC have successfully performed the world’s first human bladder transplant.
The historic procedure took place on May 4 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and was led by Dr. Nima Nassiri of UCLA and Dr. Inderbir Gill of USC.
Both surgeons have spent years refining the technique, hoping to offer a life-changing option for patients with severe bladder dysfunction and pain.
The recipient of this revolutionary surgery is 41-year-old Oscar Larrainzar, a father of four. Larrainzar had previously lost most of his bladder due to a tumor removal, leaving the remaining tissue too damaged to function properly.
He also suffered from kidney failure due to cancer and end-stage kidney disease, forcing him to rely on dialysis for the past seven years.
The groundbreaking procedure involved transplanting both a new bladder and a new kidney from a donor.
The surgical team, led by Nassiri and Gill, first transplanted the kidney and then the bladder, connecting the two organs using a pioneering technique they developed. The entire surgery lasted approximately eight hours.
The results of the transplant were immediately clear. Larrainzar’s new kidney began producing a large volume of urine right away, and his kidney function improved rapidly. For the first time in seven years, he no longer needed dialysis.
“The urine drained properly into the new bladder,” said Dr. Nassiri, highlighting the success of the procedure. Dr. Gill also expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that Larrainzar’s recovery has been smooth, with no major complications so far.
This achievement marks a historic moment in medical history. For patients with severely damaged or non-functioning bladders, a transplant may now be a new option.
Until now, bladder transplants had never been performed due to the complex network of blood vessels in the pelvic region and the technical challenges of the surgery.
Traditional treatments involved using part of a patient’s intestine to create a new urinary reservoir or pathway for urine to exit the body. While often effective, these procedures can come with serious risks, such as bleeding, infections, and digestive problems.
Dr. Nassiri believes that bladder transplants could potentially provide a more natural and healthier urinary reservoir, avoiding some of the risks associated with traditional surgeries. The successful operation was part of a clinical trial designed by Nassiri and Gill, with plans to perform more bladder transplants in the near future.
UCLA was chosen as the ideal location for this pioneering surgery because of its strong reputation in kidney transplantation and its specialized urology department. The hospital’s infrastructure and expert clinical team provided the perfect setting for both the transplant and the post-surgery care required to monitor Larrainzar’s recovery.
Dr. Gill called the operation a historic step forward, saying that it opens the door to new possibilities for patients with “terminal” bladder conditions. Both Nassiri and Gill are optimistic about the future, hoping that bladder transplants will soon become a standard option for patients in need.
With Larrainzar’s successful recovery so far, this groundbreaking surgery brings new hope to those suffering from severe bladder diseases, signaling that a new era of transplant medicine may be on the horizon.
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