Donated livers can be made biologically younger
Researchers have discovered that using perfusion machines to maintain donated livers can biologically rejuvenate the organs at a molecular level. This process may improve transplant success rates and allow for the use of organs that would otherwise be discarded.
Why it matters
Advancements in organ preservation could significantly increase the supply of viable organs for transplant, potentially saving many lives.
The finding might help explain why “perfused” livers do better once they’re transplanted.
Once an organ is removed from a donor’s body, the clock starts ticking. Surgeons usually flush the organ with a preservative solution , bag it, and put it on ice—where it immediately starts to degrade. The team has a matter of hours to get it into a recipient’s body.
There’s another option—one that has been growing in popularity in recent years, especially for donated organs that aren’t in the healthiest state. Some hospitals opt to put them on machines that pump them with nutrients and remove waste products, usually for around six to 12 hours. It’s a bit like being back in a body.
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