First Human Bladder Transplant Performed

"The procedure was performed in combination with a kidney transplant on a male patient who had been dependent on dialysis for seven years, according to a news release from the Los Angeles-based health systems. Several years ago, the patient had most of his bladder removed during a surgery to remove cancer. Both of his kidneys had also previously been removed due to renal cancer.

During the eight-hour procedure, surgeons first transplanted the kidney, followed by the bladder. After the surgery, the kidney began functioning immediately, producing urine that drained properly into the new bladder. The patient has not required dialysis since the procedure and has been recovering well, according to his medical team."

This is an incredible, positive development in the treatment of kidney failure patients specifically in relation to renal cancer. The most positive outcome is that everything worked as it should immediately following the procedure. I remember how stunned I was that after my kidney-only transplant, urination occurred. For it to occur immediately following a kidney and bladder transplant is absolutely miraculous and encouraging.

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