Man who had heart transplant from a pig died after contracting swine disease

We do not yet know the reason for the death of David Bennett, who had received a heart from a pig last January. However, researchers explain that the American had contracted a pig virus when he died, without confirming whether this was the cause of death.

Last January, David Bennett underwent a heart transplant from a pig because he had been deemed a poor candidate to receive a human heart or an artificial heart pump. Doctors were therefore trying this experimental treatment, but the American’s condition deteriorated shortly following the operation, due to two intestinal infections.

In March, the 50-year-old had been placed on antibiotic and antiviral treatment, but had finally died, when his artificial heart swelled with luiquide, stopping to function. Since then, researchers have been trying to understand what happened, and we learn that the pig’s heart harbored a porcine virus. However, they are not sure that it was because of this that David lost his life.

Doctor Bartley Griffith wonders: “What, if anything, might the virus have done that might have caused his heart to swell? Surprising indeed, since the organ had been certified as healthy following tests by the Food and Drug Administration.