In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, studying the effect of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) on post-transplant morbidity, livers donated after brain death (DBD) were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to either SCS alone (n=85), or SCS followed by 1-2 hours of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE, n=85) prior to transplantation. The study shows that while the overall number of reported complications were similar between groups, recipients of HOPE-treated livers experienced a 41% reduction in severe (Clavien-Dindo≥IIIb) complications (6.6% vs 12.0%; RR: 0.59) overall, and a 74% reduction of liver graft-related severe complications (10.1% vs 37.2%; RR: 0.27). Also, no graft failures due to liver-related complications occurred in the HOPE group, while 6 liver-related graft failures occurred in the control group (p=0.004).
“As it is a simple and quick perfusion technique, it [HOPE] can be applied easily after organ transport during recipient hepatectomy”
Schlegel et al 2023
J Hepatol / 2023 / doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.12.030
