Overview

• The first human bladder transplant was successfully completed on May 4, 2025, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center by surgeons from USC and UCLA.
• The patient, Oscar Larrainzar, a 41-year-old father of four, had been on dialysis for seven years after losing both kidneys and most of his bladder to cancer.
• The eight-hour procedure involved a combined kidney and bladder transplant, with the kidney immediately producing urine and the bladder functioning effectively.
• This milestone surgery is part of a UCLA-led clinical trial to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and long-term outcomes of bladder transplantation.
• Bladder transplants offer a potential alternative to traditional intestinal reconstructive techniques, which carry high risks of infection and metabolic complications.