A groundbreaking clinical trial comparing conventional low-temperature storage of transplant donor livers with storage at physiological body temperature has revealed promising results for the evolution of liver transplantation. Results from the trial, published this month in the Annals of Surgery, show compelling findings that could potentially revolutionize the way we preserve and transplant donor livers.

During NMP, the liver is carefully removed from the donor's body and connected to a perfusion machine. The perfusion machine pumps oxygenated blood or a specially designed preservation solution through the organ's blood vessels, replicating the conditions inside the human body. This process helps to provide the organ with oxygen and nutrients, removing waste products, and maintaining its metabolic activity. The primary objective of the trial was to assess Early Allograft Dysfunction (EAD), a marker of early post-transplant liver injury and function. While the difference in the incidence of EAD did not reach statistical significance, the study's findings suggest that NMP may still have significant benefits for certain donor livers.

Sub-group analyses revealed a greater effect size in donor's livers from individuals declared dead by cardiovascular criteria and those with higher risk factors such as age and comorbidities. In these cases, NMP demonstrated a lower incidence of dysfunction. Additionally, the incidence of cardiovascular system failure once blood flow was restored was significantly reduced in the NMP arm. Ari Cohen, MD, medical director of the Multi-Organ Transplant Institute at Ochsner Health and section head of transplant surgery was a contributing author.0

(Newswise/SS)