Cooling Provides More Lungs for Transplant
By HospiMedica staff writers
Posted on 29 Mar 2001
Researchers in Sweden have found that a cooling technique can preserve lungs for transplantation, which could help to dramatically increase the number of donor lungs for transplantation. The technique was reported in the March 17 issue of The Lancet. Posted on 29 Mar 2001
Ordinarily, organs begin to deteriorate when the heart stops beating, so removal and transplanting have to be accomplished very quickly after the donor dies. By injecting a special coolant into the lungs of a donor within about an hour after the donor's death, the researchers found they could preserve the lungs for 12-24 hours, thereby greatly extending the time limitation. Using this technique could make many more lungs available for transplant and ease the shortage that exists.
The author of the report was Dr. Stig Steen, professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Lund (Sweden).
Related Links:
The Lancet
University of Lund