Doctor with lung cancer receives groundbreaking liver and double-lung transplant in Chicago
Northwestern Surgeons Perform Groundbreaking Lung-Liver Transplant, Saving Patient with Advanced Lung Cancer
In a historic medical milestone, Northwestern surgeons successfully performed a combined lung-liver transplant on a patient with advanced lung cancer. Dr. Gary Gibbon, a pulmonologist from California, underwent the life-saving surgery after being diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer and irreparable damage to both his lungs and liver from previous treatments.
The groundbreaking surgery was made possible by Northwestern Medicine’s DREAM program, which provided Gibbon with the opportunity for a double lung-liver transplant. Within just 12 days of being on the transplant list, organs became available from one donor, leading to a swift and successful procedure.
This unprecedented surgery also saw doctors utilizing a perfusion machine to keep the liver alive during the complex operation. Six months post-surgery, Gibbon is not only cancer-free but is also celebrating his 69th birthday as a newlywed, showcasing the incredible impact of this medical achievement on his life.
The success of this surgery serves as a remarkable testament to the importance of organ donor awareness. The generosity of donors has the power to transform and save lives, as seen in the case of Dr. Gary Gibbon. The medical community is hailing this achievement as a significant step forward in the field of transplantation and a beacon of hope for patients in similar situations.