Thoracic organs: current preservation technology and future prospects; part 1: lung.
OBJECTIVE
The critical organ shortage has forced lung transplant teams to extend their donor criteria, thereby compromising a good early outcome in the recipient. Better preservation solutions for longer storage are welcomed to further reduce incidence of primary graft dysfunction. New ex-vivo techniques to assess and to condition lungs prior to transplantation are hoped to increase the number of available pulmonary grafts.


RESULTS
Although no prospective clinical trial has been carried out so far, clinical and experimental evidence suggest that an extracellular solution is currently the preservation fluid of choice for lung transplantation. The combination of an antegrade and retrograde pulmonary flush and technique to control reperfusion and ventilation are becoming common practice, although the evidence to support this method is low. Ex-vivo lung perfusion to assess and to recondition lungs has been demonstrated to be well tolerated and effective in small clinical series.


CONCLUSIONS
New extracellular preservation solutions have contributed in decreasing the incidence of primary graft dysfunction over the last decade leaving more room to extend the donor criteria and ischemic time. Ex-vivo lung perfusion is now on the horizon as a potential method to prolong the preservation time and to resuscitate lungs of inferior quality.
Van Raemdonck
Dirk
D
Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. dirk.vanraemdonck@uzleuven.be
D000818:Animals; D050377:Cold Ischemia / Q000639:trends; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends*; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends*; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010477:Perfusion / Q000639:trends*; D055031:Primary Graft Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000639:trends; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D052096:Warm Ischemia / Q000639:trends
D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions