The use of normothermic liver preservation in combined liver and lung transplantation: A single-center experience

Am J Transplant. 2022 Sep;22(9):2261-2264. doi: 10.1111/ajt.17053. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Abstract

Combined liver and lung transplantation (CLLT) is indicated in patients with both end-stage liver and lung disease. Ex-situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has been previously used for extended normothermic lung preservation in CLLT. We aim to describe our single-center experience using ex-situ NMP for extended normothermic liver preservation in CLLT. Four CLLTs were performed from 2019 to 2020 with the lung transplanted first for all patients. Median ex-situ pump time for the liver was 413 min (IQR 400-424). Over a median follow-up of 15 months (IQR 14-19), all patients were alive and doing well. Normothermic extended liver preservation is a safe method to allow prolonged cold ischemia using normothermic perfusion of the liver during CLLT.

Keywords: artificial organs; clinical research; donors and donation: deceased; hepatology; liver disease; liver transplantation; lung disease; lung transplantation; organ perfusion and preservation; organ procurement and allocation; practice; pulmonology; support devices.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cold Ischemia
  • Humans
  • Liver / surgery
  • Lung Transplantation*
  • Organ Preservation* / methods
  • Perfusion / methods