NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Los Angeles, CA, May 24, 2025: In a groundbreaking medical achievement, Dr. Inderbir Singh Gill, a globally renowned urologist and leader in robotic surgery, has co-led the world’s first successful human bladder transplant at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Performed on May 4, 2025, the eight-hour procedure involved transplanting both a bladder and a kidney from a deceased donor into 41-year-old Oscar Larrainzar, who had spent seven years on dialysis after losing both kidneys and most of his bladder to cancer treatment.
The complex surgery was led by Dr. Gill and Dr. Nima Nassiri of UCLA Health. Immediately following the operation, Larrainzar’s new kidney began functioning, eliminating his need for dialysis. Even more remarkably, the transplanted bladder began to function normally, allowing him to urinate on his own for the first time in years.
“This is a landmark moment in organ transplantation,” said Dr. Gill, who serves as chairman and Distinguished Professor of Urology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “Until now, bladder transplantation was considered unfeasible due to the organ’s intricate vascular and nerve anatomy. This success opens a new frontier in treating patients with irreversible bladder dysfunction.”
The surgical team spent over four years preparing for the historic operation, refining their techniques through extensive research and practice surgeries on deceased donors.
Bladder failure, often deemed untreatable, has left many patients dependent on catheters or urinary diversions. This successful transplant offers a new ray of hope for individuals with “terminal” bladders and those suffering from end-stage kidney disease.
Larrainzar expressed deep gratitude to the donor’s family and the medical team. “This gift has given me a second chance at life,” he said.
UCLA plans to perform more bladder transplants as part of an ongoing clinical trial, with the goal of expanding access to this life-changing procedure and studying its long-term outcomes.
Dr. Gill’s achievement has been hailed as a turning point in urologic and transplant surgery, ushering in new possibilities for patients once thought to have no viable options.
Cover photo: Dr. Inderbir Gill. Photo credit: USC Institute of Urology/Facebook
