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yesterday

UCLA Performs World’s First Human Bladder Transplant in Groundbreaking Surgery

The eight-hour procedure combined a kidney and bladder transplant, offering immediate function and a potential alternative to traditional bladder reconstruction methods.

Bladder transplant—surgeons in the operating room with spotlight on patient's torso Nick Carranza/UCLA Health

Overview

  • Oscar Larrainzar, a 41-year-old father of four, underwent the transplant on May 4, 2025, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after years on dialysis due to renal cancer and end-stage kidney disease.
  • The surgery, led by Dr. Nima Nassiri and Dr. Inderbir Gill, involved transplanting a donor kidney and bladder, with immediate urinary function and no need for dialysis post-operation.
  • This marks the first successful human bladder transplant, overcoming complex vascular and neural challenges that had prevented such procedures in the past.
  • The transplant is part of a UCLA-led clinical trial, aiming to evaluate long-term bladder function, immunosuppressive protocols, and patient outcomes.
  • While the initial results are promising, researchers are closely monitoring the patient’s stability and studying the long-term viability of the transplanted bladder.