Use of IGL-1 preservation solution in liver transplantation

University of Wisconsin (UW) solution has been known as the standard solution for liver graft preservation. Alternative preservation solutions have been used in liver transplantation, such as histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) and Celsior solution. Institut Georges Lopez-1 (IGL-1) is a new preservation solution with lower potassium and lower viscosity than UW solution that has recently been used in liver transplant. Data from 178 patients who received transplants from August 2008 to June 2013 at Hospital Santa Isabel, Blumenau, Brazil, were analyzed. All patients received grafts from brain death donors. In November 2011 we started to use IGL-1 as an alternate preservation solution. Therefore, 53 patients using IGL-1 preserved grafts were compared to 125 using HTK solution. The donor age in the HTK group ranged from 11-77 years, with a mean of 43.4 ± 4.8. In the IGL-1 group donor age ranged from 9-62 years, with a mean of 35.8 ± 4.5. Cold ischemia time in the HTK group ranged from 85-1145 minutes, mean 443.5 ± 183.5 minutes. In the IGL-1 group, cold ischemia time ranged from 85-670 minutes, mean 329.3 ± 134.8 minutes. The overall operative mortality rate was 14% (25 patients); in the HTK group, 14.4% (18 patients); and in the IGL-1 group, 13.4% (7 patients). One graft in the HTK group presented with primary non-function (PNF), 0.7%; there were none in the IGL-1 group. In our study, IGL-1 has been shown to be safe to use as a preservation solution for liver transplantation. Early post-transplant graft function was comparable to that observed with HTK solution, although a tendency for lower alanine aminotransferase levels was noticed. IGL-1 has been shown to be safe, cost efficient, and an effective preservation solution.