Portuguese study confirms use of HOPE provides demonstrably improved liver graft utilization with reduced rates of non-anastomotic biliary stricture (NAS); Italian study demonstrates increasing experience in managing DCD (donation after circulatory determination of death) results in greater utilization of more marginal donors and transplantation in recipients at higher risk.
In Madrid, Spain, at the European Liver and Intestine Transplant Association (ELITA) Summit, groundbreaking findings on liver preservation before transplantation were unveiled. Representing the largest real-world data experience with HOPE (Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion), two pivotal presentations were delivered, marking a significant advancement in transplant medicine.
Led by Dr. Dulce Diogo from Unidade de Transplantação Hepática de Adultos in Coimbra, Portugal, the first presentation showcased the outcomes of a study conducted by Dr. Júlio Constantino and colleagues. Analyzing 100 liver transplants over three years, the study revealed that HOPE led to enhanced liver graft utilization, improved graft function postoperatively, and notably reduced rates of non-anastomotic biliary stricture (NAS), a common complication post-transplantation.
The study demonstrated a remarkable decrease in NAS rates from 16.7% to 6.98% following the adoption of HOPE. This novel organ preservation technique involves the perfusion of donor livers with a cold, oxygenated preservation fluid, offering promising prospects for expanding the utilization of extended criteria grafts and improving outcomes for liver transplant recipients. These findings underscore the potential of machine perfusion methods like HOPE in revolutionizing liver transplantation practices worldwide.
