A man from Quebec, aged 64, has made history in North America by being the first recipient of a rejuvenated liver, thanks to an innovative technology that has the potential to increase the availability of transplantable livers significantly within its initial year of implementation.
Gérard Landry, residing in Nouvelle on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, struggled with liver issues for approximately 15 years, which eventually led to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Prior to his liver transplant surgery, his physician shared surprising news with him – his new liver had been regenerated using a novel machine introduced for the first time at Montreal’s Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM).
Referred to as Liver Assist, this technology enables medical professionals to treat and evaluate a donated liver externally before transplantation. For Landry, this meant receiving a liver that might have been deemed too risky for traditional transplant procedures.
Dr. David Hénault, a liver transplant specialist at CHUM who led Landry’s surgery, mentioned that the team had been preparing to utilize this technology for around three years. The Liver Assist system functions by linking a donated liver to a machine that circulates an oxygen-rich fluid through the organ, helping to reverse some of the damage caused by oxygen deprivation while the liver is outside the body.
By utilizing a blood-based solution, doctors can assess the liver’s functionality under conditions mimicking the human body. Hénault emphasized that if the liver performs well on the machine, it is likely to function effectively once transplanted into a recipient.
The CHUM conducts approximately 70 liver transplants annually. Collaborating with Transplant Québec, a study was conducted to identify livers previously declined for transplantation that could potentially be salvaged using this groundbreaking technology. The team estimates that approximately 20 to 24 additional livers could become available for transplantation in the first year of implementing the machine, with potential for further growth as the technology becomes more widespread.
The technology has shown promise in reducing complications, reoperations, and hospitalization periods for suitable patients. Landry’s swift recovery post-transplant was a positive indicator of the technology’s efficacy, with his blood work showing better-than-expected results just a day after the surgery.
Landry, currently recuperating in Montreal with regular hospital visits, looks forward to returning to his hometown in Gaspésie. His experience highlights the importance of organ donation discussions, as advanced technology alone is insufficient without an adequate supply of donated organs. As Landry aptly put it, “if you have a horse without a rider, you don’t have a ride.”