Organ preservation review: history of organ preservation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize the history of organ preservation and place into this context the current trends in preservation. RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple large retrospective studies have analyzed cold preservation solutions in an attempt to determine superiority with largely negative results. Experimental and some clinical studies have examined machine perfusion of procured grafts, in both hypothermic and normothermic contexts with variable, but promising, results. Lastly, there are experimental efforts to evaluate mesenchymal stem cell therapy on rehabilitation of marginal donor organs. SUMMARY: New trends in organ preservation may soon translate into more efficient use of the limited donor pool.