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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
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Functional Human Liver Preservation and Recovery by Means of Subnormothermic Machine Perfusion
Published on: April 27, 2015
Machine Perfusion Preservation as a Platform for Advanced Liver Surgery
Patricia Viana1, Michael Irby1, Narendra R Battula1
1Department of Surgery, Transplant Institute, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Artificial Organs
|August 1, 2026
Summary
Machine perfusion is a safe and effective technique for complex liver resections, improving patient recovery and oncologic outcomes. This advanced method helps mitigate ischemia reperfusion injury, potentially enabling more challenging surgical procedures.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary Surgery
- Transplantation
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Complex liver resections often involve prolonged vascular exclusion, leading to ischemia reperfusion injury and potential postoperative liver failure.
- Machine perfusion (MP), proven in liver transplantation for organ preservation and assessment, is now being explored in advanced hepatobiliary surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of machine perfusion in complex in situ and ex situ liver resections.
- To evaluate the potential of MP to improve perioperative and oncologic outcomes in liver surgery.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of experimental and clinical studies was conducted.
- Studies focused on hypothermic and normothermic machine perfusion in both in situ and ex situ liver surgery settings.
Main Results:
- Machine perfusion is feasible and safe for complex liver resections, enabling extended vascular control while maintaining liver function.
- Early clinical data suggest improved postoperative recovery and successful oncologic resections.
- Emerging transplant data indicate a potential reduction in tumor recurrence rates.
Conclusions:
- Machine perfusion may extend the possibilities of complex liver surgery by reducing ischemia reperfusion injury.
- MP could enable procedures that are currently considered unresectable.
- Further prospective studies are needed to optimize perfusion strategies and confirm long-term oncologic outcomes.
