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A randomized trial of normothermic preservation in liver transplantation
- Source :
- Nature; May 2018, Vol. 557 Issue: 7703 p50-56, 7p
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Liver transplantation is a highly successful treatment, but is severely limited by the shortage in donor organs. However, many potential donor organs cannot be used; this is because sub-optimal livers do not tolerate conventional cold storage and there is no reliable way to assess organ viability preoperatively. Normothermic machine perfusion maintains the liver in a physiological state, avoids cooling and allows recovery and functional testing. Here we show that, in a randomized trial with 220 liver transplantations, compared to conventional static cold storage, normothermic preservation is associated with a 50% lower level of graft injury, measured by hepatocellular enzyme release, despite a 50% lower rate of organ discard and a 54% longer mean preservation time. There was no significant difference in bile duct complications, graft survival or survival of the patient. If translated to clinical practice, these results would have a major impact on liver transplant outcomes and waiting list mortality.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00280836 and 14764687
- Volume :
- 557
- Issue :
- 7703
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Nature
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- ejs49830215
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0047-9