Clinical support for kidney perfusion

Lifeline Scientific (AIM: LSIC), the transplantation technology company, welcomes the publication in Experimental and Clinical Transplantation of the clinical study (‘Study’): “Hypothermic Machine Perfusion Permits Extended Cold Ischemia Times With Improved Early Graft Function.”

The Study was led by Drs. Andrew Ready, Alison Guy, and colleagues in the Department of Renal Surgery at the New Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, one of the UK’s largest centres for renal transplantation. The Study employed Lifeline’s state-of-the-art hypothermic machine preservation device, LifePort Kidney Transporter, for the preservation of deceased-donor kidneys transplanted out of normal surgery hours, while static cold storage (i.e. a box of ice) was used to preserve all kidneys transplanted between 8am and 8pm.

The Study demonstrated that improved early graft outcomes following longer periods of ex vivo preservation can be achieved by using hypothermic machine perfusion versus static cold storage. The Study investigators concluded that the observed effect is likely multifactorial including the inherent effects of hypothermic machine perfusion, improved transplant recipient preparation, and possibly better perioperative conditions as a result of transplants being scheduled during normal hours of operation versus expedited emergency-style procedures.

The authors noted that one of the enduring tenets of transplant is to minimize the cold preservation time of an organ prior to transplant, and stated that “to accommodate this belief, transplants may be performed on emergency operating lists staffed by surgical teams with limited experience in treating the specific needs of patients who have renal failure.” The authors further observed that such circumstances carry “an inherent risk that patient care may fall below a level of excellence.”

The Study findings led the New Queen Elizabeth Hospital to implement a protocol to place all of their deceased donor kidneys intended for transplant on the LifePort Kidney Transporter. After learning of these findings Belfast City Hospital, Northern Ireland, was inspired to adopt LifePort where conditions often require longer preservations times for donor kidneys prior to transplant.

Commenting David Kravitz, CEO of Lifeline Scientific, said:

“We applaud the work of Dr. Ready and his colleagues on the publication of these important beneficial aspects of machine preservation with LifePort. These findings are consistent with clinical experiences we have observed in major transplant centres worldwide.

“We have seen that as awareness grows of LifePort’s capability to allow for safe long-term preservation of donated kidneys, transplant surgeons are able to schedule surgery as a daytime procedure rather than an expedited emergency. It makes good sense that this extra time provides opportunity for patients, their families, surgeons and staff to be better rested and prepared, to help ensure better outcomes from surgery.”