Simultaneous ex vivo normothermic preservation of liver and heart grafts from a donation after circulatory death donor

J Card Surg. 2022 Apr;37(4):1076-1079. doi: 10.1111/jocs.16269. Epub 2022 Jan 28.

Abstract

Normothermic machine perfusion of organs is growing in popularity and has been used for both abdominal and thoracic organ preservation before transplantation. The use of normothermic machine perfusion for donation after cardiac death organs can reduce cold ischemia time and help prevent ischemia-related complications. We present a successful case of a donation after cardiac death procurement with both liver and heart allografts preserved by normothermic machine perfusion. Both allografts were perfused without complications and transplanted successfully. As the technology continues to become more prevalent, the situation described will become more commonplace, and we offer a view of the future in transplantation.

Keywords: donation after cardiac death; heart; liver; machine perfusion; normothermic.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Liver
  • Organ Preservation
  • Perfusion
  • Tissue Donors
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement*