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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Technique of Subnormothermic Ex Vivo Liver Perfusion for the Storage, Assessment, and Repair of Marginal Liver Grafts
Published on: August 13, 2014
Comparative evaluation of two perfusion solutions for liver preservation and transplantation
1Transplant Unit, A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Rome, Italy. alfonso.avolio@tin.it
Abstract:
The University of Wisconsin solution (UW) and the Bretschneider solution (HTK) were used in 39 adult cadaveric donors: 22 perfused with UW (group 1) and 17 with HTK (group II). Donors were flushed through the aorta (UW, 5 to 6 L; HTK, 8 to 10 L) and through the portal vein (UW or HTK, 1 L). Grafts perfused with HTK showed lower levels of SGOT at postoperative day 7 than those transplanted with UW (38 +/- 19 vs 58 +/- 31, P < .05). No difference was observed in other functional and outcome parameters. No cases of primary dysfunction were observed. Six-month graft survival was 85.7% in HTK group and 80.9% in UW group (P = NS). Six unrelated deaths were observed. Five biliary complications were observed in five patients: three in the UW group and two in the HTK group. In conclusion, data fail to show major differences between the two solutions used.

