ORGAN PRESERVATION

Abstract

Organ transplantation has become a preferred clinical therapy for end-stage organ disease. Since the first kidney transplant was successfully performed in 1954, organ transplantation developed rapidly and more methods for transplantation have quickly emerged. Therefore, based on this background, the method with which to preserve organs for a long time and the ideal method for organ preservation could become meaningful problems that require discussion by specialists and doctors. In this chapter, we discuss the addition of materials in preservation solutions, list the main preservation solutions, and describe gene therapy in organ preservation and clinical trials. Some classic preservation solutions are still used in clinical works, such as University of Wisconsin solution and Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution; however, others are mainly based on these classic solutions with the addition of some materials. Recent studies have found that new materials such as gas molecules added into a solution can provide better protection for organ preservation, and we are glad to see more studies about how to better preserve donor organs even while machine preservation appears to be most prominent.