Pig liver successfully filters blood in brain-dead body

In a groundbreaking study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, a team of doctors has achieved a significant breakthrough by successfully connecting a pig's liver to a human body that had experienced brain death. The novel approach, introduced last Thursday, involves attaching the pig's liver externally to the deceased person, serving as a temporary "bridge" to support failing livers. Unlike traditional methods, this external arrangement functions similarly to dialysis, filtering blood outside the body, and aims to provide a crucial solution for individuals dealing with liver failure.

During the study, the donor's circulatory system and breathing were maintained after brain death was confirmed, and their organs were deemed unsuitable for donation. While the donor's own liver remained in place, a porcine liver was connected to the body using blood-carrying tubes to evaluate its potential as a perfusion vehicle. Remarkably, the pig's liver showed no signs of inflammation during the 72-hour study period, and the donor's body remained physiologically stable.