Donor liver temperature regulation

Q: Preferably liver should be maintained for transplant outside the body at (select one)

A) Body temperature
B) Ice cold temperature



Answer: A

Donated livers are usually kept in ice-cold temperature up to 12 hours till it gets transplanted as beyond this time period viability of transplanted liver may get affected. Endeavors are underway to keep donated livers at body like environment to increase the preservation time up to 24 hours.  This technique is called "normothermic preservation". Besides keeping the liver at body temperature it also nourishes it with a continuous flow of nutrients.


#hepatology
#transplantation



Reference:

David Nasralla, Constantin C. Coussios. A randomized trial of normothermic preservation in liver transplantation, the Consortium for Organ Preservation in Europe. Nature volume 557, pages 50–56 (2018) Published: 18 April 2018