Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion of Liver Grafts from Brain-Dead Donors

Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 27;9(1):9337. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45843-3.

Abstract

Hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (HOPE) was introduced in liver transplantation (LT) to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury. Available clinical data mainly concern LT with donors after circulatory-determined death, whereas data on brain-dead donors (DBD) are scarce. To assess the impact of end-ischemic HOPE in DBD LT, data on primary adult LTs performed between March 2016 and June 2018 were analyzed. HOPE was used in selected cases of donor age >80 years, apparent severe graft steatosis, or ischemia time ≥10 hours. Outcomes of HOPE-treated cases were compared with those after static cold storage. Propensity score matching (1:2) and Bayesian model averaging were used to overcome selection bias. During the study period, 25 (8.5%) out of 294 grafts were treated with HOPE. After matching, HOPE was associated with a lower severe post-reperfusion syndrome (PRS) rate (4% versus 20%, p = 0.13) and stage 2-3 acute kidney injury (AKI) (16% versus 42%, p = 0.046). Furthermore, Bayesian model averaging showed lower transaminases peak and a lower early allograft dysfunction (EAD) rate after HOPE. A steeper decline in arterial graft resistance throughout perfusion was associated with lower EAD rate. HOPE determines a significant reduction of ischemia reperfusion injury in DBD LT.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bayes Theorem
  • Brain Death*
  • Female
  • Graft Survival*
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia, Induced*
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Liver Transplantation* / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organ Preservation*
  • Oxygenators*
  • Perfusion / instrumentation
  • Perfusion / methods*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Tissue Donors
  • Vascular Resistance