Hospital leading pilot to keep donor organs 'viable' longer

NEWCASTLE’S Freeman Hospital is a “key” site leading a national pilot programme to save more organs for transplants.

- SAM VOLPE Health reporter [e-mail]

The Freeman in Newcastle will work to use new techniques to preserve organs

The Freeman is among the first three of a number of hospitals which will work to use new techniques to preserve organs such as lungs, livers and kidneys for longer.

This comes as the national NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) agency looks to tackle transplant waiting lists which have hit “record highs”.

The pilot centres will trial techniques which will enable donor organs to be kept “viable” for longer and allow vital tests to be carried out.

This includes a method called perfusion - which sees oxygen-rich blood - or other “nutrient rich fluid” circulated through the organs. If the pilot is successful, it would lead to the world’s first national network dedicated to “reconditioning” organs.

NHSBT predicts this could “enable up to 750 of extra lifesaving and life improving transplants every year”. Perfusion techniques have previously been pioneered on Tyneside, especially in relation to donor hearts.

This pilot would see a nationwide approach adopted, in particular to donor lungs, livers and kidneys. It has been estimated that there could be up to 202 more liver transplants, up to 202 more lung transplants and up to 345 additional kidney transplants as a result.