Brain death does not affect hepatic allograft function and survival after orthotopic transplantation in a canine model.
BACKGROUND
Brain death has been shown to decrease graft function and survival in rodent models. The aim of this study was to evaluate how brain death affects graft viability in the donor and liver tolerance to cold preservation as assessed by survival in a canine transplant model.


METHODS
Beagle dogs were used for the study. Non-brain dead (BD) donors served as controls. Brain death was induced by sudden inflation of a subdural balloon catheter with continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure and electroencephalographic activity. Sixteen hours after confirmation of brain death, liver grafts were retrieved. All livers were flushed in situ and preserved for 24 hr in cold University of Wisconsin solution before transplantation. Recipient survival rates, serum hepatic enzyme levels, coagulation, and metabolic parameters of the recipients were analyzed.


RESULTS
No significant changes were observed in serum aminotransferases (alanine and aspartate transaminases) and lactate dehydrogenase levels in the BD donor. After preservation, control (n=6) and BD livers (n=5) showed full functional recovery after transplant with 100% survival in both groups at day 7. There was no significant difference in peak serum alanine, aspartate transaminases, and lactate dehydrogenase after transplantation in recipients who received a liver from BD donor compared to control group. BD livers were functionally as capable as control livers in correcting metabolic acidosis during the first 24 hr posttransplantation. Coagulation profiles (index normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time) after reperfusion were similar between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to previous reports in rodent models, our study shows that brain death does not cause significant liver dysfunction in the donor before organ removal. Donor brain death and prolonged liver graft preservation do not interact significantly to impair liver function and survival after transplantation.
Compagnon
Philippe
P
Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
Wang
Hongbing
H
Lindell
Susanne L
SL
Ametani
Mary S
MS
Mangino
Martin J
MJ
D'Alessandro
Anthony M
AM
Southard
James H
JH
D000241:Adenosine; D000493:Allopurinol; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001926:Brain Death / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D007328:Insulin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D011887:Raffinose; D012016:Reference Values; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D007328:Insulin; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; C055206:University of Wisconsin-lactobionate solution; D000493:Allopurinol; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D005978:Glutathione; D000241:Adenosine; D011887:Raffinose