Clinical trial suggests paradigm shift for lung transplantation (Keep at 50 F, not 39 F, before operation)

Medical Xpress / University Health Network / NEJM Evidence ^ | April 20, 2023 | Aadil Ali et al

[ConservativeMind]

Storing donor lungs for transplant at 10 degrees Celsius markedly increases the length of time the organ can live outside the body according to research.

The clinical trial study of 70 patients demonstrated that donor lungs remained healthy and viable for transplant up to four times longer compared to storage at the current standard of ice cooler preservation of around 4 degrees Celsius.

"The clinical impact of this study is huge. It's a paradigm shift for the practice of lung transplant," says Dr. Marcelo Cypel.

"I have no doubt that this will become the gold standard practice of lung preservation for the foreseeable future."

Lungs available for transplant are currently limited by the length of time a donor organ can be kept viable. Increasing storage time allows for viable donor lungs to come from greater distances, increasing the potential for greater numbers of lungs becoming available for transplant and overcoming many of the hurdles around transplant logistics.

"In transplant, we still see a critical shortage of organs and people dying on the waitlist because there are not enough lungs to be transplanted," says Dr. Cypel.

The trial took place over 18 months.

Some advantages of this new 10 degrees Celsius standard for lung storage include the potential to reduce or eliminate the 24/7 schedule and urgency of lung transplant procedures. By increasing the length of time donor lungs are viable, transplant surgeries could become planned procedures, which avoids bumping scheduled surgeries and overnight transplantation.

The study also suggests the new preservation temperature will allow more time to optimize immunologic matching between donor and recipients, and the possibility of performing lung transplantation in a semi-elective rather than urgent fashion.

[ConservativeMind]

4X longer ‘freshness’ date means a lot more people can benefit from organs that would have been thrown away.

Of course, this can’t become approved for the medical community until hundred of studies occur and a Cochrane review finally blesses it, which means it will take about 60 years.

[ConservativeMind]

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List
This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.