DISTANT PROCUREMENT OF ORGANS FOR CLINICAL HEART-LUNG TRANSPLANTATION USING A SINGLE-FLUSH TECHNIQUE

Abstract

A more widespread application of combined heart-lung transplantation (HLT) for the treatment of pulmonary vascular disease has been limited by the lack of a simple and inexpensive method for preserving donor organs for transplantation from distant hospitals. Of the 12 HLT patients treated at Papworth Hospital, the last 7 involved distant procurement of donor organs. For this, a single flush hypothermie system was used, with a Ringer's solution containing albumin, mannitol, prostacyclin, and heparin. This was preceded by a prostacyclin infusion into the donor's pulmonary artery.