Print Handheld Contrast

Transplantation: from Incredible Odds to Incredible Journey

From the beloved La-Z-Boy recliner, to the pictures and mementos sprinkled throughout, the treasures in Transplant Program Director Dr. Bill Wall’s office are a celebration of lives touched by over three decades of organ transplants at London Health Sciences Centre.

The chair, which offers comfort and respite to many who visit Dr. Wall’s office, is a twenty-year-old gift from the grateful wife of a liver recipient. “She just wanted a special way to say ‘thanks, now put your feet up’, Wall laughs, “and I have spent a few nights here when I’ve popped the footrest and grabbed a few quiet moments.”

It would seem there have been few ‘quiet moments’ in the Multi-Organ Transplant Program over the past thirty-plus years.

“It has been a remarkable, exciting time in which we’ve seen transplantation become one of the most successful forms of surgical treatment. What was impossible not only became possible, it became routine,” says Dr. Wall.

Dr. Wall credits the persistence and vision of Dr. Calvin Stiller in the 1970s, a time when the results with organ transplants were so poor that few individuals believed there was a future in it.

“He was convinced that kidney transplants could be successful, as well as many other organ transplants,” says Dr. Wall.

Through his tenacity, Stiller ensured that University Hospital was one of the few centres in the world to conduct clinical studies in the 1980s using cyclosporine to prevent rejection. He headed a Canadian study that examined the drug’s effectiveness in kidney recipients.

The results were astounding.

Cyclosporine proved to be a potent immunosuppressant medication in the prevention of organ rejection.

“Cyclosporine changed everything,” Dr. Wall acknowledges, calling it the major highlight in transplant history that “brought an exciting tidal wave of transplant activity to University Hospital.”

In addition to kidney transplants, liver transplants began in 1977, hearts in 1981, intestines in 1988 and lungs in 1989. More drugs were discovered over the years, which have contributed to even better results. “The benefits to patients have been enormous,” Dr. Wall says. “Individuals facing certain death from organ failure were rescued by life-saving transplants.” More than 4,000 transplants have been performed at LHSC.

There have been many “firsts” in the program, such as Canada’s first heart and lung transplant at University Hospital in 1983, the world’s first successful liver-bowel transplant in 1988 and Canada’s first pediatric liver-bowel transplant performed at Children’s Hospital in 1993.

One of Dr. Wall’s favourite career moments was watching transplant athletes in 2005 when London hosted the World Transplant Games. “Seeing these organ recipients compete at such high levels was remarkable. They are extraordinary people.”

With the highs come some lows and September 2006 brought a huge loss for the Transplant program, with the passing of Dr. Robert Zhong, a world-renowned leader and Canadian Research Chair in transplantation and experimental surgery. Many of Dr. Zhong’s investigations centred on new drugs and how to use them to prevent rejection. “He was an outstanding researcher and a fine human being, held in the highest regard by everyone,” Dr. Wall reflects.

Looking to the future, Dr. Wall anticipates great advances – the potential of xenotransplantation, stem cell therapies and tissue transplants. And, London Health Sciences Centre will be there every step of the way with a staff Dr. Wall can’t compliment enough.

“We have a wonderful group of researchers, nurses, coordinators, physicians, pharmacists, physiotherapists, social workers and dieticians working as a team to make our program a success. Without them none of this would be possible.”