Comparative analysis of clinical efficacy and cost between University of Wisconsin solution and histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate

Comparison Between IGL-1 and HTK Preservation Solutions in Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation

The effectiveness of liver preservation solutions remains in evidence. Cold ischemia time, steatosis, expanded criterion donors, operational cost, and survival represent important roles in its success. In a prospective cohort study between August 2009 and April 2014, 178 patients were allocated into an Institut Georges Lopez - 1 (IGL-1) solution group (63.5%) or histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) group (36.5%). There were no differences among recipient's characteristics including age, skin color, gender, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, acute rejection, cholestasis, and reperfusion syndrome incidences. Also, donors, age average, skin color, donor risk index, time in intensive care unit, hemodynamic variables, infections, and steatosis incidences were similar. The average cold ischemia time was 494 minutes in the IGL-1 group and 489 minutes in the HTK group (P = .77). Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase serum levels on the first postoperative day were 707 and 1185 mg/dL, respectively, with IGL-1 and 1298 and 2291 mg/dL, respectively, with HTK (P = .016) and similar at day 15 (P > .88). The incidence of delayed graft function was 4.5% with IGL-1 and 4.6% with HTK (P = .90). The incidence primary nonfunction was 2.7% with IGL-1 and 3.1% with HTK (P = .71). The incidence of perioperative death was 11.5% with IGL-1 and 13.8% with HTK (P = .94). The survival in 30 months was 86% in IGL-1 group and 82% in HTK group (P = .66). Both preservation solutions are efficient to liver transplantations with deceased donors. Major prospective trials are necessary to evaluate each preservation solution's particularities. The preservation solution availability in each transplantation center must guide its use at the present moment.

Comparable outcome of liver transplantation with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate vs. University of Wisconsin preservation solution: a retrospective observational double-center trial

Background

The question of whether the choice of preservation solution affects outcome after liver transplantation is still not satisfactorily answered. The purpose of this study is to examine the preservation solutions’ impact on outcome after liver transplantation.

Methods

A double-center retrospective study of short- and long-term results of 3134 consecutive liver transplantations with follow-up periods up to 23 years was performed applying multivariate, risk-adjusted analyses with a subset for living-donor transplants, pediatric transplants and cases with prolonged cold ischemic times. An additional focus was put on biliary complications. The primary study endpoints were short- and long-term patient survival and death-censored graft survival. Secondary study endpoints were the occurrence of post-transplant complications, the necessity of operative revisions, the length of hospital stay, and the length of intensive care unit stay.

Results

Although long-term graft survival appears to be increased by Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate-use (p = 0.018), this effect could not be confirmed in risk-adjusted analysis (p = 0.641). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that 3-month mortality (p = 0.120), 3-month graft survival (p = 0.103) and long-term patient survival (p = 0.235) were not influenced by the choice of preservation solution. There was no difference in the occurrence of common complications or necessity of operative revisions after liver transplantation. This was confirmed in subgroup analyses for living donor and pediatric transplantation and cases with prolonged cold ischemic time. Analysis of the preservation solutions’ impact on length of hospital (p = 0.113) and intensive care unit stay (p = 0.481) revealed no significant difference.

Conclusions

University of Wisconsin and Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate solutions are clinically equivalent. Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate solution could have an economically superior profile. The notion that the choice of preservation solution can have an impact on the onset of biliary complications after liver transplantation remains a matter of controversy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-230X-14-169) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The perfused swine uterus model: long-term perfusion

BACKGROUND

It has previously been shown that the viability of swine uteri can be maintained within the physiological range in an open perfusion model for up to 8 hours. The aim of this study was to assess medium- to long-term perfusion of swine uteri using a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer solution (KRBB) in the established open perfusion model.

METHODS

In an experimental study at an infertility institute, 30 swine uteri were perfused: group 1: n = 11, KRBB; group 2: n = 8, modified KRBB with drainage of perfusate supernatant; group 3: n = 11, modified KRBB with drainage of perfusate every 2 h and substitution with fresh medium. Modified and conventional KRBB were compared with regard to survival and contraction parameters: intrauterine pressure (IUP), area under the curve (AUC), and frequency of contractions (F).

RESULTS

Modified KRBB showed significantly higher IUP, AUC, and F values than perfusion with conventional KRBB. In group 3, the organ survival time of up to 17 h, with a 98% rate of effective contraction time, differed significantly from group 1 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Using modified KRBB in combination with perfusate substitution improves the open model for perfusion of swine uteri with regard to survival time and quality of contraction parameters. This model can be used for medium- to long-term perfusion of swine uteri, allowing further metabolic ex vivo studies in a cost-effective way and with little logistic effort.

Preservation solutions for static cold storage of kidney allografts: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Static cold storage is the most prevalent method for renal allograft preservation. Several solutions have been designed to counteract the detrimental effects of cold ischemia and reperfusion. The aim of this study was to appraise the evidence for the currently available preservation solutions. We performed a systematic literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Transplant Library and trial registries. Inclusion criteria specified any comparative, prospective study for deceased donor renal allografts. Studies were assessed for methodological quality. The primary outcome was delayed graft function (DGF). Fifteen trials with a total of 3584 kidneys were included. Eurocollins was associated with a higher risk of DGF than University of Wisconsin solution (UW) in two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) in two RCTs. UW was associated with an equal risk of DGF compared with Celsior in three RCTs and HTK in two RCTs. There was limited data regarding other comparisons and outcomes. The choice of preservation solution has an effect on the incidence of DGF, which might, in turn, affect long-term outcomes. Both UW and HTK have lower rates of DGF than Eurocollins. There is no difference in the incidence of DGF with the use of Celsior, HTK and UW. These findings are supported by registry data.

Organ Preservation: Current Concepts and New Strategies for the Next Decade

SUMMARY: Organ transplantation has developed over the past 50 years to reach the sophisticated and integrated clinical service of today through several advances in science. One of the most important of these has been the ability to apply organ preservation protocols to deliver donor organs of high quality, via a network of organ exchange to match the most suitable recipient patient to the best available organ, capable of rapid resumption of life-sustaining function in the recipient patient. This has only been possible by amassing a good understanding of the potential effects of hypoxic injury on donated organs, and how to prevent these by applying organ preservation. This review sets out the history of organ preservation, how applications of hypothermia have become central to the process, and what the current status is for the range of solid organs commonly transplanted. The science of organ preservation is constantly being updated with new knowledge and ideas, and the review also discusses what innovations are coming close to clinical reality to meet the growing demands for high quality organs in transplantation over the next few years.