All articles tagged with #northwestern medicine
Elizabeth Wehrle, a cystic fibrosis patient and former lung transplant recipient, received a two-stage quadruple-organ transplant at Northwestern Memorial Hospital—lungs, liver, and kidney—from one donor after severe rejection; the groundbreaking surgery demonstrates complex coordination and offers hope for similar patients.
David Peterson, a Capitol Hill resident with Stage 4 lung cancer, received a rare double-lung transplant at Northwestern Medicine under the DREAM program—the only U.S. center offering this for Stage 4 cases. A JAMA study showed 100% one-year survival for transplant recipients versus about 40% for those who did not receive a transplant, underscoring the potential to dramatically extend life for patients with cancer confined to the lungs.
Sheila Perry, 87, of Wheaton, became Illinois’ oldest known woman to receive a kidney transplant in a March 6 procedure at Northwestern Medicine after roughly seven months on the UNOS waitlist. Medical teams say there is no formal age limit for kidney transplants, and Perry’s good health aside from kidney failure — plus techniques like spinal anesthesia — helped make the surgery feasible. Prior to the transplant, she had been on home peritoneal dialysis since July 2024, which gradually limited her mobility and travel. Now recovered, she aims to resume traveling, visiting museums and spending time with family, with plans to travel to Europe again. The field continues to push age boundaries, with over 22,000 kidney transplants in 2024 nationwide and fewer than 800 performed on people over 75; the oldest US record for a female transplant was 96 in 2009.
A 39-year-old mother diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer with liver metastases underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy, had a colon tumor removed, and became the first person at Northwestern Medicine to receive a living-donor liver transplant for metastatic colorectal cancer; she is now disease-free and recovering, highlighting that, in carefully selected cases, liver transplantation can offer long-term survival for colorectal liver metastases, though the procedure remains rare in the U.S.
A 41-year-old Los Angeles mom diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer and liver metastases underwent a liver transplant from a close family friend after chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Post-surgery, a blood test showed no evidence of disease, a result Northwestern Medicine notes can be possible in carefully selected patients. The living donor, Lauren Prior, saved her life, and Piccioli is now raising awareness about transplant options for cancer that has spread to the liver and the importance of screenings for younger people.
Amy Piccioli, whose Stage 4 colorectal cancer had spread to her liver, received a partial liver transplant from a living donor. Three months after the transplant at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, doctors say she has no evidence of disease and is back to a normal life, thanks to the gift from a close family friend who donated part of her liver.
Surgeons at Northwestern Medicine used a total artificial lung system to take over gas exchange after removing both diseased lungs from a critically ill patient, preserving heart function and bridging him to a double-lung transplant. The patient survived 48 hours on life support and, after the procedure, recovered well; two years later he has normal lung function and is fully independent.
A Northwestern Medicine study found a virus, human pegivirus (HPgV), in the brains of Parkinson's patients, suggesting a potential viral link to the disease, though further research is needed to understand its role and implications.
Northwestern Medicine has developed a new double lung transplant technique that has successfully treated over 40 lung cancer patients, achieving a 100% success rate. This method, initially devised to prevent COVID-19 bacteria from spreading during transplants, also prevents cancer cells from entering the bloodstream. The technique involves cutting veins simultaneously and irrigating the chest cavity to remove cancerous cells and bacteria. This breakthrough offers new hope for patients with advanced lung conditions, including those affected by both COVID-19 and lung cancer.
A study suggests that ChatGPT, an AI language model, can provide reliable and understandable answers to common questions about radiation oncology, potentially reducing workload and burnout among physicians. The technology's responses were found to be on par with or better than those provided by experts on the internet, prompting the development of a generative AI app to assist patients with radiation oncology treatment inquiries. While AI's potential in oncology is promising, concerns about ethical and legal considerations, as well as biases in data sets used for training, remain.
Dr. Gary Gibbon, a pulmonologist diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer, received a groundbreaking double lung and liver transplant after seeing an NBC News report about the innovative procedure. Northwestern Medicine's DREAM Program successfully performed the complex surgery, which had never been done in the U.S. before. Six months after the surgery, Gibbon is cancer-free, demonstrating the potential for more transplant centers to perform similar complex surgeries. His wife credits the media for connecting them with the life-saving treatment, emphasizing the importance of exploring all options when facing dire medical situations.
Dr. Gary Gibbon, a pulmonologist diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer, received a groundbreaking double lung and liver transplant after seeing an NBC News report about the procedure. Northwestern Medicine's DREAM Program pioneered the novel approach, successfully performing more than 30 lung transplants for advanced lung cancer patients. Despite initial complications, the complex surgery was a success, leaving Gibbon cancer-free and highlighting the potential for more transplant centers to perform similar complex surgeries.
Dr. Gary Gibbon, a pulmonologist diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer and irreparable liver damage, received an unprecedented combined lung-liver transplant at Northwestern Medicine after being told there were no other options. Within 12 days of being on the transplant list, two lungs and a liver became available from one donor, and a historic surgery was performed to remove cancerous cells and complete the triple transplant. Six months later, Gibbon is cancer-free and celebrating his 69th birthday, thanks to the gift of life from an organ donor and their family.
Northwestern Medicine researchers have discovered a potential new approach to treating Alzheimer's disease by focusing on the balance of protective and toxic strands of short RNA in the brain. This fresh perspective could lead to the development of drugs that stabilize or delay the demise of protective RNA, potentially benefiting not only Alzheimer's patients but also those with other complex neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS or Parkinson's. The team is continuing their research in animal models and believes any new treatment would likely be given in combination with current therapies.
Chicago is experiencing its lowest COVID-19 hospital admission rates since the start of the pandemic, but Northwestern Medicine clinicians are warning about the lingering effects of long COVID. A study released by the hospital system's Comprehensive COVID-19 Center revealed that thousands of patients have suffered from a range of serious medical issues, including cognitive impairment, altered lung function, and decreased quality of life. The study highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to treating long COVID. While hospital admissions are declining, the center is expanding its practice to address the ongoing impact of the disease.