A groundbreaking new technique approved by the NHS will lead to the preservation of hundreds of organs for life-saving transplants. Surgeons can now oxygenate the liver with blood before extraction from a consenting deceased donor, doubling the success rate of usable livers retrieved.
Traditionally, donated livers are preserved by cold fluid flushing and ice packing, which can damage the organ due to the lack of blood and oxygen supply. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) endorsed this technique amidst a record high of over 8,000 people on the NHS transplant waiting list.
Dr. Anastasia Chalkidou, NICE program director, emphasized the urgent need for more available livers to prevent unnecessary deaths. A procedure evaluation by NICE aims to ensure consistent and fair access to this innovative preservation method nationwide.
The technique, known as Abdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion (ANRP), was pioneered by surgeons at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. This method allows the liver to recover within the donor’s body, facilitating pre-removal testing to assess functionality.
ANRP significantly enhances organ performance, with recipients experiencing a 51% lower risk of transplant failure within a year. The British Liver Trust expressed optimism about this innovative approach, highlighting the potential to increase viable liver donations and save lives.
The utilization of ANRP and similar techniques post-removal could lead to an estimated 150 additional liver transplants annually, according to NHS Blood and Transplant. Enhanced preservation methods like ANRP offer hope for patients awaiting transplants and signify a significant advancement in organ donation technology.
