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Updated: Nov 29, 2025
Functional Human Liver Preservation and Recovery by Means of Subnormothermic Machine Perfusion
Published on: April 27, 2015
Ex vivo machine perfusion: current applications and future directions in liver transplantation
Julian Michelotto1, Joseph M G V Gassner1, Simon Moosburner1
1Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany.
Background:
Liver transplantation is the only curative treatment option for end-stage liver disease; however, its use remains limited due to a shortage of suitable organs. In recent years, ex vivo liver machine perfusion has been introduced to liver transplantation, as a means to expand the donor organ pool.
Purpose:
To present a systematic review of prospective clinical studies on ex vivo liver machine perfusion, in order to assess current applications and highlight future directions.
Methods:
A systematic literature search of both PubMed and ISI web of science databases as well as the ClinicalTrials.gov registry was performed.
Results:
Twenty-one articles on prospective clinical trials on ex vivo liver machine perfusion were identified. Out of these, eight reported on hypothermic, eleven on normothermic, and two on sequential perfusion. These trials have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of ex vivo liver machine perfusion in both standard and expanded criteria donors. Currently, there are twelve studies enrolled in the clinicaltrials.gov registry, and these focus on use of ex vivo perfusion in extended criteria donors and declined organs.
Conclusion:
Ex vivo liver machine perfusion seems to be a suitable strategy to expand the donor pool for liver transplantation and holds promise as a platform for reconditioning diseased organs.
