Surgeons at UCLA Medical Center have achieved a medical milestone: on May 20, 2025, they performed the world’s first successful transplant of a human bladder into a living patient, after four years of careful preparation.
The eight-hour operation, led by Dr. Nima Nassiri and assisted by Dr. Inderbir Gill, involved transplanting a donated kidney first, followed by a whole bladder, then expertly reconnecting them using a novel surgical technique they developed together.
What makes this breakthrough truly noteworthy is how seamlessly the new bladder functioned from the very first moment. The kidney began producing a high volume of urine immediately, and it drained perfectly into the transplanted bladder — no dialysis was required post-operatively.
This instant functionality contrasts sharply with previous approaches, which often relied on repurposing a patient’s intestine to create a urinary reservoir—a solution that can trigger bleeding, infections, and long-term digestive complications.
The patient, Oscar Larrainzar, had endured seven years on dialysis after losing most of his bladder to a tumor and both kidneys to cancer. His successful recovery signals hope for millions worldwide who suffer from terminal bladder conditions — ranging from non-functioning bladders to chronic pain and recurrent infections.
By offering a “more normal urinary reservoir,” bladder transplantation could transform quality of life for those facing severe dysfunction.
Of course, risks remain: the body’s immune response and the side-effects of long-term immunosuppression drugs are still unknown territory. Dr. Nassiri emphasizes that ideal candidates are those already requiring immunosuppression, and his team will be closely monitoring how long such therapy must continue.
“This first attempt at bladder transplantation has been over four years in the making,” Nassiri reflects. “For the appropriately selected patient, it is exciting to be able to offer a new potential option”. His words capture both the scientific rigor behind the procedure and the profound human impact of giving someone renewed bodily function.
If you’re as fascinated by this leap in transplant surgery as we are, dive into all the details — check out the full article for photos, patient insights, and more on how this could reshape urology forever.
