A man from Quebec, aged 64, has become the first person in North America to undergo a liver transplant from a regenerated liver. This groundbreaking technology has the potential to increase the availability of livers for transplant significantly. Gérard Landry, a resident of Nouvelle in Quebec, had been battling liver issues for 15 years, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Before Landry’s surgery at Montreal’s CHUM, his doctor shared surprising news that his new liver had been regenerated using a novel machine. Referred to as Liver Assist, this technology allows doctors to treat and evaluate a donated liver outside the body before transplantation, making it possible to use organs that would have been deemed too risky otherwise.
Dr. David Hénault, a liver transplant specialist at CHUM, spearheaded the project and conducted Landry’s surgery. The Liver Assist system involves connecting a donated liver to a machine that circulates oxygen-rich fluid to help reverse any damage caused by oxygen deprivation. Subsequently, doctors can switch to a blood-based solution to assess the liver’s functionality in conditions simulating the human body.
The innovative technology is expected to expand the pool of available livers for transplant. CHUM, which currently performs around 70 liver transplants annually, anticipates that the Liver Assist system could potentially make an additional 20 to 24 livers available for transplantation in its initial year of operation, with the potential for further growth as the technology advances.
Early indications following Landry’s transplant showed promising results, with his post-operative blood work surpassing expectations. Dr. Hénault expressed confidence in the machine’s contribution to Landry’s successful transplant. Landry’s recovery progress has been exceptional, and he looks forward to returning to his family and horses in Gaspésie after his continued stay in Montreal for monitoring and medication adjustments.
Landry hopes that his story will raise awareness about organ donation and the importance of having a conversation with loved ones about it. He emphasizes that advanced technology can only do so much without an adequate supply of donated organs, likening the situation to having a horse without a rider – it needs both to be complete.