In a groundbreaking advancement for lung transplants, researchers at UMC Utrecht, Netherlands, have demonstrated that donor lungs can now be preserved safely outside the body for up to 20 hours using a technique called Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion (HOPE).
The findings were presented at the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) 2025 Annual Meeting in Boston by Jitte Jennekens, transplant coordinator at UMC Utrecht.
🔌 What Is HOPE?
HOPE is a technique that keeps donor lungs viable outside the human body by circulating cold, oxygen-rich fluid through them. This helps prevent tissue damage and makes it possible to preserve and transport lungs for longer durations than current methods.
Traditionally, donor lungs are stored on ice, then warmed for evaluation using Normothermic Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (nEVLP). In the nEVLP-HOPE protocol, lungs are evaluated using nEVLP and then cooled to 12°C for extended preservation, without needing a second ice phase.
🔍 Study Results
- 12 donor lungs were preserved using the nEVLP-HOPE protocol between 2022 and 2024.
- None were rejected for transplant.
- Short-term outcomes matched those of 118 lungs transplanted without the HOPE technique (control group).
💡 What This Means for Healthcare
This technique could significantly improve logistics and patient outcomes in lung transplantation:
- Better organ viability overnight, allowing daytime surgeries
- Potential to expand the donor pool
- Opens the door for reconditioning lungs with therapeutic interventions pre-transplant
At The Doctorpreneur Academy, we believe this innovation is a game-changer for transplant surgeons, ICU physicians, and organ donation programs. Understanding how technology like HOPE improves transplant outcomes is crucial for doctors who aim to lead in modern healthcare.
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