Organ Preservation without Extreme Hypothermia Using an Oxygent™ Supplemented Perfusate

Abstract

All methods of organ preservation depend upon hypothermia to depress metabolism during storage. Yet, hypothermia may represent the rate-limiting factor in organ preservation. A new perfusate has been developed which supports organ preservation without extreme hypothermia. The perfusate consists of a complex fluid supplemented with an oxygen carrying perfluorocarbon emulsion, Oxygent (Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp). The perfusate was used to preserve canine kidney autografts using pulsatile preservation at 32°C and static storage at 25°C. Upon autografting the dogs produced urine within minutes of reperfusion. These results indicate the new perfusate may have significant potential in organ preservation without extreme hypothermia.