Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Innovative Strategies for Organ Preservation in Heart Transplantation: Uniform Cooling Preservation and Ex-situ Normothermic Perfusion
Published on: November 28, 2025
Early clinical experience with a phase change material-based temperature-controlled cold-chain system for donor heart
Dong Youb Han1, Kitae Kim1, Ah Ram Kim2
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Temperature fluctuations during conventional ice-box static cold storage may contribute to donor heart injury. We evaluated a phase change material (PCM)-based temperature-controlled cold-chain container (VIXELL) in consecutive adult heart transplantations.
Methods:
In a single center, 12 consecutive orthotopic heart transplantations (May-Nov 2025) used VIXELL to maintain 2°C-8°C during ground transport with continuous temperature recording. Severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) was assessed using International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation criteria.
Results:
In-transit temperatures remained within 2°C-8°C in cases reflecting shorter and longer transport durations within the cohort without freezing or excessive warming. Cold ischemic time was 116.8 ± 59.6 min, and early graft function markers were favorable (peak lactate 6.3 ± 2.8 mmol/L; lactate normalization 13.8 ± 3.7 hours). No severe PGD occurred.
Conclusions:
PCM-based temperature control was feasible and provided stable hypothermia during donor heart transport. Larger comparative studies are warranted.
