A man from Quebec, aged 64, has made history in North America by being the first recipient of a regenerated liver through a revolutionary technology that could potentially increase the number of viable livers available for transplant by dozens in its initial year. Gérard Landry, a resident of Nouvelle on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, had been battling liver issues for approximately 15 years, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Just before undergoing surgery for a liver transplant, Landry was informed by his doctor that the liver he was about to receive had been regenerated using a novel machine at Montreal’s Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM).
The innovative technology, known as Liver Assist, enables medical professionals to treat and evaluate a donated liver outside of the recipient’s body before the transplant procedure. For Landry, this meant the opportunity to receive a liver that may have been considered too risky for transplantation without this technology.
Dr. David Hénault, a specialist in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery and liver transplants at CHUM, spearheaded the project and conducted Landry’s surgery. The Liver Assist system functions by connecting a donated liver to a machine that circulates an oxygen-rich fluid through the organ, potentially reversing some of the damage caused by oxygen deprivation while the liver is outside the body. Subsequently, doctors can switch to a blood-based solution to assess the liver’s functionality under conditions mimicking the human body.
It is estimated that the Liver Assist technology, following a study conducted with Transplant Québec, could enhance the availability of livers for transplantation by 20 to 24 additional organs within its first year of implementation, with the potential for further expansion as the technology becomes more widespread. Dr. Hénault highlighted the positive impact this advancement could have on individuals awaiting liver transplants, potentially reducing complications, reoperations, and hospital stays for eligible patients.
Landry’s post-transplant progress was notably promising, with immediate improvements observed in his blood work following the surgery. Dr. Hénault attributed this success to the utilization of the machine, expressing confidence in its contribution to Landry’s positive outcome.
As Landry continues his recovery in Montreal, undergoing periodic blood tests for medication adjustments, he looks forward to returning to Gaspésie to continue recuperating and reunite with his family, friends, and horses. He also hopes that his experience will inspire conversations about organ donation, emphasizing the critical role of donated organs in enabling life-saving treatments. Landry aptly remarked, “if you have a horse without a rider, you don’t have a ride,” underscoring the importance of organ donation in facilitating medical advancements and saving lives.