Machine perfusion

Overview
Machine perfusion (MP) is a technique used in organ transplantation as a means of preserving the organs which are to be transplanted. So far it has mainly been used in kidney transplantation. It is an alternative to cold storage (CS). Its clinical and cost-effectiveness are still subject to research.

Hypothermic perfusion has given the longest storage time for canine kidneys with the best result being 8 day storage. This experimental model used a storage temperature of 8°C and a Plasma Protein Fraction (PPF) based perfusate. The octanoic acid content of PPF was found to influence the results of preservation in five-day storage. Both octanoic acid and oleic acid stimulated oxygen consumption to a similar degree during hypothermic perfusion suggesting that the detrimental effect of Octanoic acid was due to direct metabolic stimulation rather than uncoupling of oxidatative phosphorylation.