The scientific community is welcoming further progress in the field of xenotransplantation. NYU Langone Health (NYU Langone Health) recently announced that it has completed the world's first combined transplant of a mechanical heart pump and pig kidney. The operation was performed by two independent surgical teams. First, the cardiac surgery team implanted a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), or artificial mechanical heart pump, on the patient to replace the blood pumping function of the original heart; then, the heterologous transplant team performed the pig kidney transplant. Notably, in addition to transplanting a pig's kidney, this xenograft also included a pig's thymus gland to help combat possible rejection. It was performed for a total of 9 days before and after surgery.