Preliminary Observations of An Ex Vivo Normothermic Whole Blood Machine Perfusion in An Experimental Liver Transplant Porcine Model

Background. Even though transplantation is an essential treatment with no viable alternatives, a significant worldwide donor shortage persists. In this study, we assessed the metabolism of livers that underwent extended periods of circulatory death and subsequently conducted functional validation through transplantation to explore the feasibility of using livers from an uncontrolled donor after circulatory death (u-DCD). Methods. A donor model simulating u-DCD was constructed using pigs. The prolonged warm ischemia time (WIT) was set to 60, 120, and 180 minutes, and the liver function was evaluated after 24 hours of perfusion using an originally developed normothermic perfusion system. Based on the results, functional confirmation by transplantation was performed on the 2 groups with prolonged WIT of 60 and 180 minutes. Results. Based on the 24-hour perfusion of the liver alone, we evaluated the function by transplanting the WI 60-minute model and 180-minute model (N = 3 each). Warm ischemia was 73.5 & PLUSMN; 3.7 minutes and 188 & PLUSMN; 3 minutes in the 60-minute model and 180-minute model, respectively. In the model with 60 minutes of WI, one case survived until the endpoint, and 2 cases survived between 8 and 12 hours, whereas, in the model with 180 minutes of WI, they died within 6 hours. Conclusion. We constructed a completely uncontrolled circulatory arrest model without anticoagulation and showed the possibility of using u-DCD livers by ex vivo machine perfusion and transplantation.

Automated summary

This study explored the feasibility of using livers from uncontrolled donors after circulatory death (u-DCD) through transplantation. A pig model simulating u-DCD was used, and liver function was evaluated after 24 hours of perfusion. The results showed that u-DCD livers can be successfully transplanted using ex vivo machine perfusion.