In a groundbreaking medical breakthrough, surgeons at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, have successfully performed the world’s first human bladder transplant.
The innovative procedure offers new hope to patients battling severe bladder disorders.
The historic surgery took place on May 4 and involved 41-year-old Oscar Larrainzar, a father of four, who had lost a significant portion of his bladder to cancer several years ago.
After the disease also led to the removal of both kidneys and seven years on dialysis, Larrainzar received a life-changing dual transplant, both a kidney and a bladder from a deceased donor.
In an eight-hour operation, the surgical team first transplanted the kidney, followed by the bladder. They then connected the new kidney to the bladder using a pioneering surgical technique developed over the last four years.
“The kidney immediately began producing a large volume of urine, and the patient’s kidney function improved right away,” said Dr. Nima Nassiri, one of the lead surgeons. “There was no need for dialysis after the operation, and the new bladder drained urine properly.”
Dr. Nassiri and his colleague Dr. Inderbir Gill noted that full bladder transplants had never been attempted before due to the pelvic region’s complex vascular structure. This complexity made the procedure technically daunting until now.
Before this breakthrough, patients requiring bladder reconstruction often relied on artificial bladders made from intestinal tissue or used stoma bags to collect urine externally. Both alternatives came with numerous risks and quality-of-life challenges.
“With this successful transplant, we’re optimistic about offering a safer and more natural alternative,” said Nassiri. “This could revolutionize how we treat severe bladder conditions.”
Medical experts consider this success a major leap forward in transplant and urologic surgery, potentially transforming the future of bladder treatment worldwide.
By Susan Muli
