John Paul Brunet*
The death of David, BENNET (the first man to have been transplanted, on January 7, 2022, with a pig's heart), 2 months after the operation has revived the debate on animal organ transplants which will probably be a real alternative to transplants in a few years. allografts. Indeed, despite enormous efforts made over the last 50 years, the number of human organs available from deceased subjects for clinical transplantation purposes is very insufficient compared to the demand. For example, in the United States alone, there are currently over 120,000 patients waiting for transplants but only 30,000 transplants are performed each year using organs from deceased donors. However, transplant surgeons have liberalized their donor selection criteria, now sometimes using organs from so-called "high-risk", "marginal" or "extended criteria" deceased donors, which are organs from donors who would not have been used a few years ago. The first xenotransplantations were carried out in the 17th century. But it was at the beginning of the 20th century that their history, punctuated by multiple adventures, began. The detection of porcine virus in Bennett's heart is perhaps paradoxically good news for the future of xenotransplantation if it is the main cause of transplant failure. United Therapeutics companies and eGenesis plan to start clinical trials using pig organs within the next year or two.