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Lungs Saved: New Machine Boosts Transplant Success
28 Jul
Summary
- Machine keeps organs alive outside the body.
- Could rescue four in five donated lungs currently unused.
- Aims to improve low lung transplantation rates in the UK.
A groundbreaking machine that sustains organs outside the body is poised to dramatically increase lung transplantation rates in the UK. Draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommends a four-year NHS trial of the XVIVO perfusion system.
This technology warms donated lungs to body temperature and circulates a blood-mimicking fluid while ventilating them. This process allows transplant teams to assess lung function, treat infections, and manage fluid levels, potentially saving organs that would otherwise be deemed unsuitable for transplantation.
Nice estimates that the machine could rescue up to 80% of donated lungs currently going to waste. With 170 patients, including children, on the waiting list and many facing long waits or death before a transplant, this innovation offers crucial hope. The guidance ensures all transplant centres can benefit from this technology.
