First combined bladder-kidney transplant shows early success at six months
A Lancet feasibility study reports stable kidney function and working bladder storage after the first vascularized bladder graft transplanted with a kidney.
By Tom Brennan · Health & Medicine Correspondent
2 min read
The first reported human transplant of a fully vascularized bladder together with a kidney was still functioning six months after surgery, according to a feasibility study published in The Lancet. The result matters because it suggests a possible transplant-based option for some patients with severe bladder disease who now face more complex urinary reconstruction.
The study, led by Nima Nassiri and colleagues, describes an operation performed in May 2025 on a 41-year-old man. According to the researchers, the patient had end-stage kidney disease and a badly damaged bladder.
The surgical team carried out an eight-hour combined transplant, the Lancet report said. The researchers described the bladder graft as a separate donor organ with its own blood supply, rather than as tissue attached to or dependent on the transplanted kidney.
What the surgery showed
According to the study, the transplanted kidney began working as soon as blood flow was restored during the operation. The bladder graft also showed adequate circulation and remained viable throughout the procedure, the authors reported.
At the six-month follow-up, the patient could store urine in the transplanted bladder and urinate without assistance, according to the Lancet paper. The researchers also reported that the kidney remained stable while the patient was receiving standard immunosuppression therapy.
The study said there were no signs of rejection at the six-month mark. The report framed the case as an early test of feasibility rather than proof that the procedure is ready for broad use.
Why researchers are watching the approach
The authors said a successful bladder transplant could offer an alternative for selected patients with end-stage bladder disease. Current approaches can use bowel tissue to reconstruct urinary pathways, and the researchers said a transplant approach may help reduce metabolic and infection-related complications in some cases.
The Lancet paper reported that additional clinical trials are underway. The authors said those studies will include more patients and longer follow-up, while surgeons continue to refine the technique for future procedures.
The published report identifies the work as a first-in-human feasibility trial of combined bladder-kidney transplantation. Based on the six-month findings, the researchers concluded that the operation was technically feasible and showed early functional success in the single patient studied.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.