Oxygenated machine perfusion at room temperature as an alternative for static cold storage in porcine donor hearts.

BACKGROUND: There is a continued interest in ex situ heart perfusion as an alternative strategy for donor heart preservation. We hypothesize that oxygenated machine perfusion of donor hearts at a temperature that avoids both normothermia and deep hypothermia offers adequate and safe preservation. METHODS: Cardioplegia-arrested porcine donor hearts were randomly assigned to six hours of preservation using cold storage (CS, n = 5) or machine perfusion using an oxygenated acellular perfusate at 21°C (MP, n = 5). Subsequently, all grafts were evaluated using the Langendorff method for 120 min. Metabolic parameters and histology were analyzed. Systolic function was assessed by contractility and elastance. Diastolic function was assessed by lusitropy and stiffness. RESULTS: For both groups, in vivo baseline and post-Langendorff biopsies were comparable, as were lactate difference and myocardial oxygen consumption. Injury markers gradually increased and were comparable. Significant weight gain was seen in MP (p = 0.008). Diastolic function was not impaired in MP, and lusitropy was superior from 30 min up to 90 min of reperfusion. Contractility was superior in MP during the first hour of evaluation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the initial functional outcome of MP-preserved hearts was transiently superior compared to CS, with no histological injury post-Langendorff. Our machine perfusion strategy could offer feasible and safe storage of hearts prior to transplantation. Future studies are warranted for further optimization.

Improved kidney graft function after preservation using a novel hypothermic machine perfusion device.

OBJECTIVE: To study graft function and ischemia/reperfusion injury of porcine kidneys after preservation with the new Groningen Machine Perfusion (GMP) system versus static cold storage (CS). INTRODUCTION: The increasing proportion of marginal and nonheart beating donors necessitates better preservation methods to maintain adequate graft viability. Hypothermic machine preservation (HMP) is a promising alternative to static CS. We have therefore developed and tested an HMP device, which is portable and actively oxygenates the perfusate via an oxygenator. The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of the GMP system in a transplantation experiment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a porcine autotransplantation model, kidneys were retrieved and either cold stored in University of Wisconsin CS for 20 hours at 4 degrees C or subjected to HMP using University of Wisconsin machine perfusion at 4 degrees C with 2 different pressure settings: 30/20 mm Hg or 60/40 mm Hg. RESULTS: HMP at 30/20 mm Hg was found to better preserve the viability of kidneys reflected by improved cortical microcirculation, less damage to the proximal tubule, less damage mediated by reactive oxygen species, less proinflammatory cytokine expression, and better functional recovery after transplantation. However, high perfusion pressures (60/40 mm Hg) resulted in higher expression of von Willebrand factor and monocyte chemotactic peptide-1 in postpreservation biopsies and subsequent graft thrombosis in 2 kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the GMP system improves kidney graft viability and perfusion pressures are critically important for outcome.

An in-vitro test set-up for evaluation of a voice-producing element under physiologic acoustic conditions.

To improve the voice quality of laryngectomised patients, a voice-producing element has been developed. Prior to in vivo testing we constructed and validated an in-vitro test set-up, consisting of a physical model of the subglottal tract and three physical models of the vocal tract, for the vowels /a/, /i/ and /u/ to evaluate the voice-producing element under physiologic acoustic conditions. To meet acoustic conditions described in the literature, we determined the appropriate dimensions of these physical models, using a numerical model of the pressure perturbation in rigid tubes. The numerical model showed that an acoustic equivalent of the subglottal tract could be obtained with a three-tube system and an end impedance. Vocal tract models could be constructed using two- and four-resonator tubes. The physical models were built and successfully validated according to the human acoustic properties. The developed in-vitro set-up can now be applied to test voice-producing elements or vocal fold models under physiologic acoustic conditions.

Oxygenation during hypothermic rat liver preservation: an in vitro slice study to demonstrate beneficial or toxic oxygenation effects.

Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) of abdominal organs is shown to be superior compared to cold storage. However, the question remains if oxygenation is required during preservation as oxygen is essential for energy resynthesis but also generates toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). To determine if oxygenation should be used during HMP, urea-synthesis rate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and generation of ROS were studied in an in vitro model, modeling ischemia-reperfusion injury. Furthermore, expression of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) mRNA was assessed since UCP-2 is a potentially protective protein against ROS. Rat liver slices were preserved for 0, 24, and 48 hr in University of Wisconsin machine perfusion solution (UW-MP) with 0%, 21%, or 95% oxygen at 0-4 degrees C and reperfused for 24 hours. In the 0% and 95% groups, an increase of ROS was found after cold storage in UW-MP. After slice reperfusion, only the 0% oxygen group showed higher levels. The 0% group showed a lower urea-synthesis rate as well as lower ATP levels. mRNA upregulation of UCP-2 was, in contrast to kidney mRNA studies, not observed. In conclusion, oxygenation of UW-MP gave better results. This study also shows that ROS formation occurs during hypothermic preservation and the liver is not protected by UCP-2. We conclude that saturation of UW-MP with 21% oxygen allows optimal preservation results.

Hypothermic machine preservation in liver transplantation revisited: concepts and criteria in the new millennium.

To overcome the present shortage of liver donors by expansion of the existing donor pool and possibly lengthening of the storage time, hypothermic machine perfusion of the liver as a dynamic preservation method is revisited. The three most important aspects are defined to be the type of preservation solution, the characteristics of perfusion dynamics, and the oxygen supply. Reviewing hypothermic liver machine perfusion experiments, the University of Wisconsin machine preservation solution is the solution most used. It is also found that nothing conclusive can be said about the optimal perfusion characteristics, since either perfusion pressure or perfusion flow is reported. The best estimation is perfusion of the liver in a physiological manner, i.e. pulsatile arterial perfusion and continuous portal venous perfusion. The applied pressures could be chosen to be somewhat lower than physiological pressures to prevent possible endothelial cell damage. Oxygen supply is necessary to achieve optimal preservation of the liver. The minimal amount of partial oxygen pressure required is inversely related to the normalized flow. Incorporating these features in a system based on existing standard surgical and organ sharing procedures and which is able to work stand-alone for 24 h, weighing less than 23 kg, could successfully implement this technique into every day clinical practise.

Effect of University of Wisconsin organ-preservation solution on haemorheology.

In conventional cold-storage organ preservation, the donor organ is flushed with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution at 0-4 degrees C. The initial flush is used to wash out blood from the microcirculation to allow optimal preservation with the UW solution. The component hydroxyethyl starch (HES) of UW is known to cause relatively high viscosity and a possible interaction with blood, i.e. increased red blood cell (RBC) aggregation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the HES component on the viscosity of UW and the aggregation behaviour of blood during washout. Viscosity aspects were measured with a cone-plate rheometer. HES-induced RBC aggregation was studied by means of an optical aggregation measuring device. The experiments were carried out with rat whole blood and mixtures of rat whole blood with UW-solution and UW without HES (UWmod), at 4 degrees C. The viscosity of blood at 4 degrees C is two-times higher than at 37 degrees C; the UW/blood mixture at 4 degrees C is 1.3-times more viscous than blood at 37 degrees C; the 4 degrees C UWmod/blood mixture equals the viscosity of blood at 37 degrees C. The UW/blood mixture shows a ninefold increased aggregation compared with whole blood. These aggregates are larger than the diameter of the sinusoids in the rat liver. A mixture of whole blood and UWmod shows a lower aggregation than blood. Apart from an increased viscosity, HES in UW causes increased RBC aggregation. The aggregates are larger than the diameter of the sinusoids. Initial washout could be optimised by pre-flushing to improve the viability of the liver and to decrease delayed graft function.

Initial blood washout during organ procurement determines liver injury and function after preservation and reperfusion.

Organ procurement is the first step toward effective liver preservation and comprises a thorough washout of blood components from the microvasculature. To study the efficacy of optimal blood washout of the liver, three groups were compared including low-pressure perfusion with UW-CSS (12 mmHg, group A), which is the routine method in clinical practice, high-pressure perfusion with UW-CSS (100 mmHg, group B) and low-pressure perfusion with modified UW solution (12 mmHg, group C). After procurement all livers were preserved in original UW-CSS for 0, 24 or 48 h, followed by reperfusion in oxygenated Williams Medium E for 24 h at 37 degrees C. Histology results of livers procured in group A, showed good hepatocyte viability but also remaining erythrocytes. However, injury parameters were high and ATP concentrations were low. No functional differences were found. Group B, high pressure, and group C, modified UW-CSS, both showed better results. High-pressure washout is preferable since the warm ischemia time during procurement is short. We propose to use high-pressure UW-CSS perfusion for the initial blood washout of the donor liver instead of the usually used low-pressure washout.