A man from Quebec, aged 64, has made history in North America by being the first recipient of a regenerated liver. This groundbreaking technology has the potential to significantly increase the number of available livers for transplantation. Gérard Landry, a resident of Nouvelle on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, battled liver issues for 15 years, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Before his transplant surgery, his doctor informed him that his new liver had been regenerated using an innovative machine at Montreal’s Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM).
The technology, known as Liver Assist, enables doctors to treat and evaluate a donated liver outside the body before transplantation. For Landry, this meant receiving a liver that may have been considered too risky without this technology. Dr. David Hénault, a liver transplant specialist at CHUM, spearheaded the project and performed Landry’s surgery after three years of preparation.
The Liver Assist system functions by connecting a donated liver to a machine that circulates an oxygen-rich fluid through the organ, potentially reversing damage caused by oxygen deprivation. This method allows doctors to assess the liver’s functionality in conditions resembling the human body. Hénault emphasized the significance of this technology in salvaging livers previously deemed unsuitable for transplantation.
CHUM conducts approximately 70 liver transplants annually. Collaborating with Transplant Québec, the team identified livers declined for transplantation that could be salvaged using the new technology. They anticipate an additional 20 to 24 livers becoming available for transplantation in the first year of implementation, with potential growth as the technology becomes more widespread.
Studies indicate that Liver Assist can reduce complications, reoperations, and hospital stays for suitable patients. Following his transplant, Landry exhibited promising signs of recovery, with improved blood work post-surgery. He attributes his successful outcome to the assistance of the machine during the process.
During his recovery in Montreal, Landry looks forward to returning to Gaspésie once fully healed. Despite his eagerness to reunite with family, friends, and horses, he hopes his journey will inspire discussions on organ donation. Landry emphasizes the importance of organ availability, recognizing that even advanced technology cannot succeed without donor organs. In his words, “if you have a horse without a rider, you don’t have a ride.”