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. 2021 Feb;406(1):39-54.
doi: 10.1007/s00423-020-02014-7. Epub 2020 Nov 20.

Ex vivo machine perfusion: current applications and future directions in liver transplantation

Julian Michelotto #  1 , Joseph M G V Gassner #  1 , Simon Moosburner  1 , Vanessa Muth  1 , Madhukar S Patel  2 , Markus Selzner  2 , Johann Pratschke  1 , Igor M Sauer  1 , Nathanael Raschzok  3   4
Affiliations

Ex vivo machine perfusion: current applications and future directions in liver transplantation

Julian Michelotto et al. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Liver transplantation is the only curative treatment option for end-stage liver disease; however, its use remains limited due to a shortage of suitable organs. In recent years, ex vivo liver machine perfusion has been introduced to liver transplantation, as a means to expand the donor organ pool.

Purpose: To present a systematic review of prospective clinical studies on ex vivo liver machine perfusion, in order to assess current applications and highlight future directions.

Methods: A systematic literature search of both PubMed and ISI web of science databases as well as the ClinicalTrials.gov registry was performed.

Results: Twenty-one articles on prospective clinical trials on ex vivo liver machine perfusion were identified. Out of these, eight reported on hypothermic, eleven on normothermic, and two on sequential perfusion. These trials have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of ex vivo liver machine perfusion in both standard and expanded criteria donors. Currently, there are twelve studies enrolled in the clinicaltrials.gov registry, and these focus on use of ex vivo perfusion in extended criteria donors and declined organs.

Conclusion: Ex vivo liver machine perfusion seems to be a suitable strategy to expand the donor pool for liver transplantation and holds promise as a platform for reconditioning diseased organs.

Keywords: Clinical application; Liver transplantation; Machine perfusion; Systematic literature review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preservation methods for liver transplantation with static cold storage (SCS), hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP), and normothermic ex vivo liver machine perfusion (NEVLP) and their respective advantages
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Flowchart of the performed systematic literature research
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Time line of published clinical trials involving liver machine perfusion, color-coded according to applied mode of perfusion with hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP, blue), normothermic ex vivo liver machine perfusion (NEVLP, red) and sequential machine perfusion (green)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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