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Why would the failure of one extremely experimental transplant put a damper on subsequent extremely experimental transplants?

Is the idea that they should have it all worked out before they even try it?

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It’s because they don’t know why the heart muscles died.

And if they come up with a theory that they can test with another procedure?

Ideally, yes? I mean it would be strictly better. I’m not saying they shouldn’t try even though they don’t.

That's why it's called an experimental treatment, and is why you only try it out on people who will certainly die if only treated in more conventional ways. You can't possibly have everything worked out before you try an experimental treatment by it's very definition. It's inherently risky, but it's also a very important way in which medical science is advanced.

Did they try it on other primates first?

Yes.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/pig-heart-monkey-...

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35969109

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/baboons-survive-f...

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