Support for Ex Vivo Organ Perfusion in Kidney and Liver Transplantation

AbstractPurpose of ReviewStatic cold storage has been the gold standard for deceased donor kidney and liver graft preservation. Ex vivo organ perfusion technology has emerged as a potential alternative to static cold storage for kidney and liver graft preservation.Recent FindingsHypothermic machine perfusion of marginal deceased donor kidney grafts has become a standard clinical practice in kidney transplantation. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of normothermic machine perfusion for marginal deceased donor kidney grafts. Multicenter, prospective randomized trials have been initiated in the USA to evaluate application of both hypothermic and normothermic machine perfusion as an alternative to static cold storage for marginal deceased donor liver grafts.SummaryEx vivo organ perfusion technology is in period of widespread growth in the field of liver transplantation. Significant regulatory, logistical, and financial issues need to be addressed before broader clinical application of ex vivo organ perfusion in liver transplantation.
Source: Current Transplantation Reports - Category: Transplant Surgery Source Type: research