Machine perfusion

Machine perfusion is a method used in organ transplantation to preserve donated organs while they are out of the body. This technique involves the continuous delivery of oxygenated blood or a preservation solution to the organ. Machine perfusion can be performed at a variety of temperatures, including hypothermic, normothermic, or subnormothermic conditions.

Overview

Machine perfusion is an alternative to static cold storage, the traditional method of organ preservation. It has been shown to improve organ quality and extend the time that organs can be stored before transplantation. This is particularly important for organs that are in high demand, such as kidneys, livers, and hearts.

Types of Machine Perfusion

There are two main types of machine perfusion: hypothermic and normothermic.

Hypothermic Machine Perfusion

Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) involves cooling the organ to a temperature of 4-10 degrees Celsius. This slows down the metabolic rate of the organ, reducing the risk of damage during preservation.

Normothermic Machine Perfusion

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) maintains the organ at a normal body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. This allows the organ to continue functioning as it would in the body, which can help to improve organ quality and reduce the risk of damage during transplantation.

Benefits of Machine Perfusion

Machine perfusion has several benefits over static cold storage. These include:

• Improved organ quality: Machine perfusion can help to improve the quality of organs by providing them with a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients.
• Extended preservation time: Machine perfusion can extend the time that organs can be stored before transplantation, which can increase the number of organs available for transplantation.
• Reduced risk of organ damage: Machine perfusion can reduce the risk of organ damage during preservation and transplantation.

See Also

• Organ transplantation
• Organ preservation
• Static cold storage

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  Diagram of normothermic regional perfusion of abdominal organs prior in preparation for transplantation