The gold standard for storing lungs for transplantation procedures was to pack the lungs on ice in a cooler that kept them at approximately 4 °C (39 °F). But looking back at lung transplantation research, it became clear that there are temperatures that are even more suitable for preserving donor lungs.
The first lung transplant was performed in 1963. Since then, when the lungs are removed from the patient, they are packed in ice coolers and rushed to the recipient’s location. In general, this method allows the lungs to survive for about 6-8 hours. Wondering if this time could be improved, researchers led by a team of scientists from the University Health Network in Toronto looked back at experimental data from decades ago.
“Our approach to solving this problem was to find the optimal lung storage temperature by examining data from experiments conducted over 30 years ago. It’s very cold, and we even looked at body temperature to see what it would be like, ideal lung storage temperature,” said Adil Ali, lead author of the study and adjunct scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute. says Dr.
Data reveal that storing lungs at 10 °C (50 °F) is the best approach, rather than the approximately 4 °C (39 °F) temperature generated by ice in coolers. bottom. In fact, a further study of 70 patients conducted outside hospitals in Toronto, Vienna and Madrid revealed that higher temperatures can increase storage times by up to 36 hours. .
“The clinical implications of this study are enormous,” said lead author Marcelo Cypel, Ph.D. “This is a paradigm shift in the practice of lung transplantation. I have no doubt that this will become the gold standard for lung preservation in the near future.”
Working with Professor Ana Adreaza of the University of Toronto, researchers found that warmer temperatures work very well because they help maintain cell membrane function and mitochondrial health in lung cells. , helps generate energy at the cellular level and is a key component of organ health.
This finding may have broad implications for lung transplant surgery. Longer storage times have allowed lungs to be transported farther, making the organ accessible to more people. The improved storage capacity may make it easier to schedule surgery and eliminate the need for other surgeries from the operating room to accommodate lung transplants.
You can learn more about the breakthrough, along with another important development in the world of lung transplantation, from the researchers themselves in the video below.
The Future Now: Two Studies Glimpse into the Future of Organ Transplantation
This research New England Journal of Medicine Evidence.
Source: University Health Network
