New technology gives more South Australians a second chance at life
At Flinders Medical Centre, hope is being restored for more patients waiting for a life-saving liver transplant, thanks to incredible new technology and the generosity of our community.
With the support of Flinders Foundation donors, including the Burton Foundation, the South Australian Liver Transplant Unit has welcomed the Liver Assist™ organ perfusion system, a machine that is already changing lives.
This breakthrough technology, new to Australia, works by cooling and oxygenating donor livers to improve their quality and function. In some cases, it can even resuscitate organs that were once considered too damaged to use. This means more patients can receive the transplant they desperately need, sooner.
For people living with liver failure, the wait for a compatible liver can stretch from months to years. Sadly, some never get the chance. But with this new machine at Flinders Medical Centre, the transplant team hopes to perform up to 20% more transplants per year, potentially saving around six more lives annually.
A new lease on life for Simon
For 56-year-old Simon Maddaford, this machine was nothing short of a miracle.
“I was always healthy. I wasn’t a drinker or a smoker, so my diagnosis came as a huge surprise,” Simon said.
After living with liver disease for several years, his condition suddenly worsened in late 2022. “I didn’t know if I’d make it through Christmas – which was incredibly hard,” he recalled.
Placed urgently on the transplant list, Simon became the first patient in South Australia (and more widely, Australia) to receive a liver preserved with the Liver Assist™ system.
“I’m just so thankful to be the first patient,” Simon said. “I hope many others will benefit from this. My new liver is functioning better than when I was in my 20s — and I was only in hospital for a couple of weeks.”
A community effort that saves lives
Associate Professor John Chen, Director of the SA Liver Transplant Unit, says the technology is a game-changer:
“There’s a significant percentage of donor livers we can’t use because they’re too risky to transplant. Now, we can give those livers a second chance, and in doing so, give more patients a second chance at life.”
Flinders Foundation Executive Director Ross Verschoor says none of this would be possible without the kindness of the community.
“Every donation, no matter the size, plays a part in moments like this,” Ross said. “Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, more families will see their loved ones given the gift of more time together.”
Burton Foundation’s Julian Burton OAM said his family is honored to help bring this technology to South Australia. “We know how important it is for families to have access to the very best care when it matters most,” Julian said. “This machine is life-saving, giving patients a greater chance of recovery and more precious time with their loved ones.
Flinders Foundation is proud to partner with the community, including the generous support of the Burton Foundation. Together, we have equipped the SA Liver Transplant Unit with groundbreaking technology to provide exceptional lifesaving and life-changing care to patients and their families at Flinders Medical Centre.
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Flinders Foundation acknowledges the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Flinders precinct was established. We acknowledge the Kaurna people’s deep and ongoing connection to land, waters and community, and pay our respect to their Elders, past and present.
