Revolution in organ preservation: machine perfusion sets new standards!

Revolution in organ preservation: machine perfusion sets new standards!

The Alexander Karl Foundation today launched an important research project at the Mainz University Medical Center, which is being funded with 300,000 euros. The aim of this initiative is to improve organ preservation during liver transplants by introducing machine perfusion, an innovative technique that is already enjoying success around the world. This is particularly relevant given the ongoing shortage of suitable donor organs in Germany, which is often due to older donors and donors with poor health.

Traditionally, donor organs are preserved by cooling them in ice, which does not provide them with sufficient oxygen. In contrast, machine perfusion allows organs to be flushed with an oxygen-enriched solution during the post-removal period. This should not only improve the suitability of the organs for transplantation, but also help to ensure functionality over a longer period of time.[uni-mainz.de]

The advantages of machine perfusion

Machine perfusion offers several advantages over classic, static cold storage. The technique is able to provide better blood flow to organs and maintain satisfactory metabolic activity. There are several types of machine perfusion, including hypothermic perfusion (HMP) and normothermic perfusion (NMP). Hypothermic perfusion cools the transplant to 4 to 12 degrees Celsius and prevents organ damage, while normothermic perfusion occurs at body temperature and thus maintains metabolic activity.[doccheck.com]

A 2020 review study confirms the superiority of machine perfusion, particularly in liver transplants, in terms of short-term outcomes. Despite these successes, the widespread use of machine perfusion in the Eurotransplant area has not yet been implemented.[doccheck.com]

Research and clinical trials

The Mainz University Medical Center plans to take part in a Germany-wide clinical study that compares various machine perfusion methods with conventional methods. The most important research questions include how insufficient blood flow and oxygen deficiency in the organs can be avoided and how the chances of successful transplantation can be increased. In the long term, the full potential of machine perfusion should be exploited in order to be able to help affected patients more effectively.[uni-mainz.de]

The development of machine perfusion is a pioneering step in transplant medicine. Scientists hope that this technique will not only improve transplant outcomes, but also significantly expand the donor pool. This prospect is particularly important in Germany, where the legal framework and the lack of suitable organs represent a major challenge.[pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

In summary, the introduction and further development of machine perfusion represents a promising solution to the challenges in organ preservation. The ongoing research could revolutionize transplant medicine and thus make a decisive contribution to saving patient lives.[doccheck.com]