A Pragmatic Approach to Normothermic Regional Perfusion and Machine Perfusion in Donation After Circulatory…

StudyASAIO journal (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs : 1992)· Jul 2026

A Pragmatic Approach to Normothermic Regional Perfusion and Machine Perfusion in Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplantation.

Ivan Vella, Caterina Accardo, Gaetano Burgio, Salvatore Gruttadauria

Transplant SurgeryStudyClinical practiceQ2IF 2.0

Standardized perfusion protocol yielded 100% graft and patient survival in donation after circulatory death liver transplants.

A Pragmatic Approach to Normothermic Regional Perfusion and Machine Perfusion in Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplantation.

Ivan Vella … Salvatore Gruttadauria

ASAIO journal (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs · Jul 2026 · Q2 in General Medicine

Background

Controlled donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver transplantation in Italy is uniquely challenged by a legally mandated 20 minute no-touch period after circulatory arrest, prolonging warm ischemia before intervention.

Results

100%

every recipient survived with a working graft, no losses

n = 38 donors

More results

We describe a standardized technical approach to rapid normothermic regional perfusion initiation and intraoperative graft triage in Maastricht category III DCD donation.

After the no-touch period, percutaneous femoral cannulation is initiated while laparotomy and sternotomy are performed in parallel.

More results

In cases of failed cannulation or inadequate perfusion, a predefined surgical rescue strategy is applied.

“

Conclusion

This standardized, reproducible approach may improve graft utilization and optimize integration of normothermic regional perfusion and machine perfusion in settings with prolonged legally mandated no-touch intervals.

A Pragmatic Approach to Normothermic Regional Perfusion and Machine Perfusion in Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplantation.

A Pragmatic Approach to Normothermic Regional Perfusion and Machine Perfusion in Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplantation.

Related papers