Liver transplant tech shows life-saving potential

In a paper in the journal Nature, Oxford-based OrganOx has published the findings of a randomised, multinational clinical trial, in which transplanted livers were shown to function better when preserved with its metra device.

When a liver is donated for transplant, it is stored in an ice box. This slows the liver’s metabolism, helping to preserve it until it can be transplanted. However, the organ continues to deteriorate every second it is preserved on ice, limiting the length of time an organ can be stored to between six to nine hours, according to Andy Self, commercial director at OrganOx.

“When the liver is in an ice box, the surgeon has very little information to go on, he can’t assess the function of the liver, all he can do is look at the donor history and make a judgement call about whether to transplant it,” said Self.