In a groundbreaking medical achievement, surgeons at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health have successfully completed the world’s first human bladder transplant. The pioneering procedure, which also included a kidney transplant, was performed on May 4, 2025, at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. This marks a significant advancement in the treatment of patients with non-functioning bladders.
Oscar Larrainzar, 41, was the recipient. He had been on dialysis for seven years because of end-stage kidney disease, and he had previously lost the majority of his bladder during cancer treatment. Under the direction of Drs. Nima Nassiri of UCLA and Inderbir Gill of USC, the eight-hour procedure included the transplanting of a donor kidney and bladder. The kidney was transplanted first, then the bladder, and finally, using a new method they had created, the two organs were joined.
The immediate results were promising. The transplanted kidney began producing urine right away, and Larrainzar’s kidney function improved without the need for dialysis. The new bladder also began to drain urine properly. While long-term outcomes remain to be seen, the initial success offers renewed hope for patients with severe bladder dysfunction.
“The kidney immediately made a large volume of urine, and the patient’s kidney function improved immediately,” Nassiri said. “There was no need for any dialysis after surgery, and the urine drained properly into the new bladder.”
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The procedure was part of a clinical trial at UCLA Health, aiming to study outcomes and assist more patients with severe bladder conditions. While uncertainties remain about the long-term function of the transplanted bladder and the duration of immunosuppressive treatment, this milestone represents a significant step forward in medical science.