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Patients & Families

A new day

At XVIVO, we work to give patients in need of an organ transplant a more certain future. Around the world, our technologies help clinicians and researchers push the boundaries of transplantation medicine by increasing the availability of transplantable donor organs, improving outcomes, and ultimately giving more patients the chance to receive a life-saving transplant. We are proud to play a role in extending horizons for patients everywhere – so they can enjoy new hope, and look forward to a new day.

Organ donation

One of the biggest challenges in transplantation is the lack of suitable organ donors. If more donated organs were available, more patients would be able to receive a transplanted organ and thus have the opportunity to live a longer and better life. Machine perfusion is an important key to expanding the donor pool. An individual donor can save up to eight people by transplanting the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas and small bowel.

Watch the story of an EVLP lung recipient

The history of transplantation

Did you know that the first organ transplant was performed in 1954?
Learn more about the fascinating history of transplantation here.

Frequently asked questions about machine perfusion

What is machine perfusion?

Machine perfusion (also called organ perfusion) is a technique for preserving organs prior to transplantation. It works by continuously supplying the organ with a solution and sometimes oxygen that is circulated through the organ. Today, machine perfusion is used worldwide in lung, heart, liver and kidney transplantation.

When is machine perfusion used?

Machine perfusion is used during organ transplantation procedures to preserve and assess organs outside of the body, ensuring their viability prior to transplantation. It is used by transplant clinics to extend the life of organs and enables clinicians to assess whether an organ is suitable for transplantation. Also, it serves as an alternative to static cold storage, which involves placing organs on ice in a cooling box.

What is EVLP?

Normothermic Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) is a method used to assess donated lungs ahead of transplantation. Upon arrival at the transplant clinic, the lungs are connected to a machine and are perfused at body temperature with an oxygenated solution. A pump provides circulation, and a ventilator simulates breathing. Because the lungs are held at body temperature, EVLP enables clinicians to assess the lungs’ suitability for transplantation. By having this opportunity more lungs will be accepted for transplantation.

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What is static cold storage?

Static cold storage (SCS) is a decades-old method of preserving organs, which involves packing them on ice during storage and/or transportation. SCS induces hypothermia, which slows down cellular metabolism and decreases the need for oxygen. Unfortunately, the method significantly reduces the life span of the organs and does not enable their suitability for transplantation to be assessed.

What are the advantages of machine perfusion?

Machine perfusion has numerous advantages compared to static cold storage, including:

More organs can be used, including ones that otherwise would have been discarded for various reasons

More organ transplants can be performed since you have more information about the organ or you are given more time to match with a suitable recipient
Fewer complications after transplantation
Improved clinical outcomes for transplant recipients