A comparison of flushing solutions for liver procurement using an isolated perfused porcine model

There is no agreement on the best technique of in situ flushing of livers prior to storage. In order to study this, porcine livers were stored in the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution for 18 h and then assessed using an isolated perfused porcine model. Livers flushed in situ with UW solution were compared to livers flushed with a non-preservation solution (Hartmann's solution). No statistically significant differences could be found in bile production (18.7 +/- 4.4 vs 17.9 +/- 3.8mL/1000 g per 2 h), aspartate amino-transferase (AST) levels in the perfusate after 2 h of isolated perfusion (687 +/- 101 vs 724 +/- 114 U/L), potassium levels in the perfusate after 2 h on the circuit (5.4 +/- 1.5 vs 5.5 +/- 2.3 mmol/L), weight gain (15.2 +/- 3.7 vs 17.1 +/- 4.0%) or platelet sequestration (41.6 +/- 11.7 vs 37.4 +/- 9.8%) between livers flushed with UW solution as opposed to those flushed with Hartmann's solution, respectively. Of overriding importance was the solution in which the liver was stored, reconfirming the superiority of UW solution over an extracellular solution for preservation. If extrapolated to the clinical situation, these findings would have substantial cost-saving implications.