Highlights

World Firsts

• World first in the field of angiomas: Identification of the major cause of venous malformation. Professor Miikka Vikkula's laboratory of human molecular genetics at de Duve Institute (formerly ICP), Université catholique de Louvain, in collaboration with Prof Laurence Boon (Center for vascular anomalies of Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc), recently made a particularly important discovery in the field of vascular anomalies. They identified the cause of venous malformation1 (also known as "cavernous angioma"). This finding opens the door to new perspectives on treatment. (December 2008). Read more
• First ever transplantation of ovarian tissue between genetically different sisters, with subsequent restoration of ovarian function and embryo development (2007). Professor Jacques Donnez, Head of the Department of Gynaecology and Andrology at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint- Luc, in partnership with his team, has also achieved other world firsts in the field of ovarian transplantation.
• World's first partial face transplant
  A 38-year-old woman severely disfigured by a dog attack received a "partial" triangular graft, consisting of the chin, lips and nose. This operation was performed in November 2005 at the Amiens University Hospital Centre (CHU). Professor Benoît Lengelé, a specialist in microsurgery,reconstructive and plastic surgery at the Saint-Luc University Hospital was a member of the medical team led by Professor Jean-Michel Dubernard from the Hôpital Edouard-Herriot in Lyon and Professor Bernard Duvauchelle from CHU Amiens.
• World's first implantation of an electrode around an optic nerve on a blind patient in 1998 performed by the Department of Neurosurgery led by Professor Raftopoulos.

Investment

• In January 2006 the Saint-Luc University Hospital acquired high-resolution 3.0-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging operating equipment. This equipment is unique worldwide and has proven to be a valuable asset in procedures peformed by Professor Christian Raftopoulos and his neurosurgical team.
• In December 2008 a brand new hybrid operating theatre for cardiovascular surgery was inaugurated. It is the first time in Europe such an exceptionnal equipment is installed in an operation block. Read more (press release in French).