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. 2014 Jun 24;4(2):40-2.
doi: 10.5500/wjt.v4.i2.40.

Organ assessment and repair centers: The future of transplantation is near

Bryan A Whitson  1 , Sylvester M Black  1
Affiliations

Organ assessment and repair centers: The future of transplantation is near

Bryan A Whitson et al. World J Transplant. .

Abstract

Solid organ transplantation is limited by suitable donor organ availability and the geographic limitations that lead to prolonged ischemic times. Ex vivo organ perfusion is an evolving technology that enables assessment of organ function prior to transplantation. As a byproduct, overall out of body organ times are able to be extended. The future implications organ assessment and repair centers utilizing this technology are discussed.

Keywords: Ex vivo organ perfusion; Heart; Kidney; Liver; Lung; Organ transplantation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A conceptualized Organ assessment and repair centers would receive donated organs (traditional and marginal donor quality) and assess their function. During the assessment, the quality, viability, and function of the evaluated organ would be determined. There may be sub-specialization of assessment and repair center with local expertise in one or two organ types. ARC: Assessment and repair center.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Through the use of ex vivo organ perfusion, preservation times would be extended. With this extension of total ischemic times, organs would have the opportunity to truly be matched with the recipient who would most benefit from that particular organ at that particular time. Occasionally, the allocation may be the current, traditional approach, where the allocation directly bypasses the ex-vivo assessment at the assessment and repair center and proceed directly to the recipient. (Adapted from Black and Whitson, 2013)[3]. ARC: Assessment and repair center.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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