World-first bladder transplant a ‘historic’ success four years in the making
Groundbreaking transplant gives recipient hope of a ‘normal life’
- Surgeons at Keck Medicine of USC and UCLA Health have performed the world's first bladder transplant.
- The recipient, Oscar Larrainzar, 42, had been on dialysis for seven years and lost most of his bladder to cancer.
- He says he now hopes he can live a “normal life” and spend time with his children.
- The complex eight-hour surgery involved transplanting a kidney, followed by the bladder. The transplanted kidney immediately began producing urine, eliminating the need for dialysis post-surgery.
- The groundbreaking procedure offers a potential alternative to reconstructive bladder surgery, which carries significant risks.