• Carolin Olbertz, Nikolaus Pizanis, Hagen Bäumker, Simon Becker, Clemens Aigner, Ursula Rauen, Ingo Nolte, Markus Kamler, and Achim Koch.
• 1 Thoracic Transplantation, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, West German Heart Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
• Int J Artif Organs. 2019 Jul 1; 42 (7): 362-369.

ObjectiveEx-vivo lung perfusion is a promising tool to evaluate and recondition marginal donor lungs usually after a cold static preservation. The concept of continuous organ perfusion is supposed to reduce ischemic damage; however, the optimal perfusion protocol has not been established yet. The aim of this study was to compare immediate ex-vivo lung perfusion (I-EVLP) to delayed ex-vivo lung perfusion (D-EVLP) after a certain cold static preservation period on lung function in a large animal model.MethodsIn a porcine model, lungs were procured after circulatory death and 60 min of no-touch warm ischemia. Lungs were preserved with single-flush cold low potassium dextran solution and prepared either for I-EVLP (n = 8) or stored cold for 9 h with subsequent D-EVLP (n = 8). Functional outcomes and morphology were compared during 4 h of ex-vivo lung perfusion, using STEEN SolutionTM as perfusion solution.ResultsPulmonary functional data, perfusate activities of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and products of lipid peroxidation did not differ significantly. There was a trend toward lower wet-dry ratio (I-EVLP: 13.4 ± 2.9; D-EVLP: 9.1 ± 2.5) and higher ΔpO2 in D-EVLP group (I-EVLP: 209 ± 51.6 mmHg; D-EVLP: 236.3 ± 47.3 mmHg).ConclusionIn this donation-after-circulatory-death model, 9 h of cold static preservation followed by ex-vivo lung perfusion results in comparable pulmonary function to I-EVLP as indicated by oxygenation capacities and wet-dry ratio. Our findings indicate that prolonged cold static preservation prior to ex-vivo lung perfusion is as safe and effective as I-EVLP in the procurement of donor lungs.

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