Warm ischemia

Warm ischemia is a medical term that refers to the condition where an organ or tissue is deprived of blood supply at body temperature. This condition often occurs during organ transplantation procedures, and can lead to significant tissue damage if not managed properly.

Definition

Warm ischemia is defined as the period of time that an organ or tissue is at body temperature but without blood flow. This is in contrast to cold ischemia, which refers to the period of time that an organ or tissue is preserved at low temperatures after being removed from the body.

Causes

Warm ischemia typically occurs during surgical procedures when blood flow to an organ or tissue is temporarily interrupted. This can happen during organ transplantation procedures, during which the organ is removed from the donor's body and prepared for transplantation into the recipient's body.

Effects

The effects of warm ischemia can be severe, as the lack of blood flow can lead to tissue damage and cell death. The severity of the damage depends on the duration of the ischemic period and the type of tissue involved. Some tissues, such as the brain and heart, are particularly sensitive to ischemia and can sustain significant damage after just a few minutes of interrupted blood flow.

Management

The management of warm ischemia involves minimizing the duration of the ischemic period and restoring blood flow as quickly as possible. This can be achieved through various surgical techniques and the use of certain medications. In the case of organ transplantation, the organ is often cooled down to slow the metabolic rate and reduce the risk of tissue damage.

See also

• Ischemia
• Cold ischemia
• Organ transplantation

Warm ischemia Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia