Comparison of UW with other solutions for liver preservation in dogs

Abstract

The efficacy of the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution was compared with conventional Euro-Collins solution, as well as with 3 variants of a silica gel solution developed at the University of Minnesota (UM). Protection of the liver grafts with UW was superior after 24 hour preservation, although the results were inferior to those with immediate transplantation, as judged by animal survival, liver function tests, coagulation, and histopathologic parameters. The UM-III solution allowed similar animal survival as with the UW solution. Lactobionate and raffinose that are contained in both the UW and UM-III solutions were thought to be essential constituents for long-term preservation of liver grafts. The study not only establishes, under controlled circumstances, the superiority of the UW solution, but it also provides insight about the reasons for its effectiveness as well as a caution against its over exploitation.

Fig. 1

Animal survival after transplantation of liver grafts preserved with various test solutions.

Fig. 2

Graft weight change, amount of blood transfusion and graft function at 1 h after graft revascularization.

Fig. 3

AST and total bilirubin in animals that lived for more than 7 d after liver transplantation.