Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Technique of Porcine Liver Procurement and Orthotopic Transplantation using an Active Porto-Caval Shunt
Published on: May 7, 2015
Wash-out of the non-heart-beating donor liver: a comparison between ringer lactate, HTK, and polysol
M Bessems1, B M Doorschodt, P S Albers
1Surgical Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. m.bessems@amc.uva.nl
Unlabelled:
The solution of choice for wash-out of non-heart-beating donor (NHBD) livers is histidine tryptophan ketoglutarate (HTK). This solution has a lower viscosity, due to absence of a colloid, and is less expensive as compared to the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. A new preservation solution for machine perfusion was developed, named Polysol. In order to apply Polysol clinically in NHBD organ retrieval, the efficacy as a wash-out solution was investigated.
Methods:
After a warm ischemic time of 30 minutes, the rat liver was washed out via the portal vein with 50 mL of either ringer lactate (RL), HTK or Polysol. After wash-out and harvesting, the liver was reperfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer. Samples were taken to assess hepatocellular injury and liver function.
Results:
Liver damage parameters were elevated in the RL group as compared to the HTK and Polysol groups. Liver/rat weight ratios were significantly lower after wash-out with Polysol. Overall, no differences were seen in ammonia clearance and bile production. In conclusion, wash-out of the NHBD liver with Polysol results in equal to improved reperfusion results as compared to HTK. Polysol is feasible as a wash-out solution in combination with machine perfusion using Polysol.
