Using organ perfusion to optimize donor livers.

Publication/Presentation Date

4-1-2023

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The shortage of donor organs has led to the use of marginal extended criteria donor (ECD) livers to increase access to liver transplant. Ex-vivo machine perfusion allows for treatment and assessment of organs during preservation, potentially facilitating safe use of ECD livers at risk for worse clinical outcomes. This article reviews the latest published literature on the application of ex-vivo machine perfusion technologies in liver transplantation.

RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple randomized controlled trials on the use of hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) and normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) have been published in the past 5 years demonstrating improved graft function and decreased biliary complications after machine perfusion. Novel applications of machine perfusion include pretransplant organ viability testing, expansion to pediatric transplant, and prolonged preservation.

SUMMARY: There is now a body of evidence that HMP and NMP treatment improves clinical outcomes in ECD livers. There is a wide horizon for future applications of these preservation techniques to further optimize donor livers and to facilitate more liver transplants for those on the waitlist.

Volume

28

Issue

2

First Page

95

Last Page

103

ISSN

1531-7013

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

36752282

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS