ISLAMABAD: A team of surgeons at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles has made medical history by performing the world’s first successful human bladder transplant, hospital authorities announced.
The recipient, 41-year-old Oscar Larrainzar—a father of four—had previously undergone partial bladder removal due to cancer. Over the years, he also lost both kidneys to cancer and end-stage kidney disease, requiring dialysis for seven years.
In an eight-hour procedure, Larrainzar received both a donor kidney and a bladder. The surgical team first implanted the kidney, followed by the bladder, then linked the two using a method developed specifically for this operation, according to a statement from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Dr. Nima Nassiri, one of the lead surgeons, noted the transplant’s immediate effectiveness. “The new kidney began producing a substantial amount of urine right away, and the patient’s kidney function improved immediately,” he said. “There was no need for dialysis post-surgery, and the urine flowed properly into the new bladder.”
Nassiri, alongside fellow surgeon Dr. Inderbir Gill, explained that full bladder transplants had not been attempted before because of the intricate network of blood vessels in the pelvis, making such operations extremely challenging.
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“This milestone is the result of over four years of meticulous planning and research,” Nassiri shared.
Previously, patients requiring bladder reconstruction had limited options, including creating a new bladder from sections of the intestine or using an external stoma bag to collect urine—methods often associated with serious risks and complications.
Doctors are hopeful that full bladder transplants will offer a safer and more functional alternative for patients moving forward.
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