US surgeons reach medical milestone with first successful bladder transplant, bringing new hope to patients with serious bladder conditions

WASHINGTON, May 20 — Surgeons at a Los Angeles hospital have successfully carried out the world’s first human bladder transplant, hospital officials announced.

The groundbreaking procedure took place on May 4 at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and marks a significant advancement for patients with severe bladder disorders.

The recipient, 41-year-old Oscar Larrainzar, a father of four, had previously undergone bladder removal due to cancer. He later lost both kidneys to cancer and end-stage kidney disease and had been on dialysis for seven years, according to a statement from the University of California, Los Angeles released on Sunday.

During the eight-hour operation, Larrainzar received both a kidney and a bladder from the same donor. Surgeons first transplanted the kidney, followed by the bladder, using a surgical technique developed at UCLA.

“The kidney began producing a large amount of urine immediately, and the patient's kidney function improved right away,” said Dr. Nima Nassiri, one of the lead surgeons. “There was no need for dialysis after the surgery, and urine flowed properly into the newly transplanted bladder.”

Nassiri and fellow surgeon Inderbir Gill noted that full bladder transplants had never been performed before due to the complex blood vessel network in the pelvis, which made the procedure extremely challenging.

“This historic transplant was over four years in the making,” Nassiri said.

Previously, patients requiring bladder reconstruction had limited options — including using intestinal tissue to construct a new bladder or relying on external stoma bags — both of which carry significant risks. Doctors now hope that full bladder transplants may offer a safer, more effective alternative. — AFP