Former DMCH Ludhiana Student Pioneers First Human Bladder Transplant in U.S.
Los Angeles/May 20, 2025
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/A.Gary Singh
In a groundbreaking advancement in organ transplantation, surgeons at UCLA Health have performed the first-ever human bladder transplant — a potential life-changing solution for patients suffering from bladder dysfunction and chronic pain.
The historic operation took place at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on May 4 and was led by Dr. Nima Nassiri, a urologic transplant surgeon at UCLA, with support from Dr. Inderbir Gill, executive director of the USC Institute of Urology. The two surgeons have spent years collaborating to develop and perfect this innovative surgical technique.
“This first bladder transplant is the result of more than four years of dedicated planning and preparation,” said Dr. Nassiri, who leads UCLA’s Vascularized Composite Bladder Allograft Transplant Program. “For the right patients, we now have a promising new treatment option.”
First-of-Its-Kind Procedure
The recipient, 41-year-old Oscar Larrainzar, had lost nearly his entire bladder during a previous cancer-related surgery. As a result, his bladder function was severely compromised. He also underwent the removal of both kidneys due to cancer and kidney failure and had been on dialysis for seven years.
During the complex, eight-hour procedure, the medical team transplanted both a new kidney and a bladder, sourced from a donor. The kidney was transplanted first, followed by the bladder. Using their newly developed technique, the surgeons connected the transplanted kidney to the new bladder.
According to Dr. Nassiri, the results were immediate: “The kidney began producing urine right away, and dialysis was no longer needed. The urine flowed into the new bladder as expected.”
A Long-Awaited Breakthrough
Bladder transplants had never been attempted before due to the technical challenges of the pelvic region’s complex blood vessels. Until now, patients with severe bladder issues have had to rely on reconstructive surgeries that use segments of the intestine to create or augment a bladder — procedures that often carry complications like bleeding, infections, and digestive problems.
In contrast, a bladder transplant could provide a more natural solution with fewer long-term side effects. “This approach offers a more functional urinary reservoir and could avoid many risks associated with intestinal surgeries,” Nassiri explained.
The team spent years developing the technique, performing numerous practice surgeries — including the world’s first robotic bladder retrievals — at the Keck Medical Center of USC. These trials helped them refine the process for human transplantation.
Looking Ahead
The surgery was part of a clinical trial initiated by Drs. Nassiri and Gill, who hope to offer this procedure to more patients in the future. UCLA, with its nationally recognized transplant programs and unique integration of urology and kidney transplantation under one department, was ideally positioned to host the operation.
This coordinated structure provided the infrastructure and specialized teams needed to manage the complex pre- and post-operative care.
While long-term results are still unknown — including how the new bladder will function over time and the level of immunosuppressive medication required —
Larrainzar’s early recovery has been stable and promising.
News Source :- Click Here
|
