Breaking The Time Barrier: Organ Care System Preserves Lungs Outside The Body

Surgeon works on donor lungs inside the TransMedics machine

La nueva tecnología pulmonar da esperanza a los pacientes que están esperando

Two people are alive today because of new technology adopted by Gift of Life Michigan in January.

TransMedic lung oxygenation machineThe 67-year-old man and 40-year-old woman, both living in Minnesota, received new lungs thanks to a new organ care system that preserves lungs outside the body and extends the amount of time from surgical recovery to transplantation. The TransMedics system also reconditions marginally healthy lungs after they’re connected to the machine, making more lungs healthy enough to transplant. The result: More lungs available and improved quality of the organs for recipients.

Without this system, donated lungs must be transplanted within six hours. In these cases, transplants were successful after seven hours. One set of lungs was preserved for 23 hours.

“Este es un ejemplo perfecto de lo que podemos hacer”, dijo Ian Mogg, gerente de Servicios de Órganos en Gift of Life Michigan. “Podríamos asignar pulmones a Texas, California, el estado de Washington; no hay ninguna limitación que conozcamos”.

Monitor showing organ vital statistics for the TransMedic machineTransMedics technology simulates bodily conditions such as temperature and blood flow to preserve recovered lungs for longer periods of time, and even improve oxygenation levels. Lungs that are healthy and need to go a short distance are cooled and transplanted within 6 or 8 hours. . With TransMedics, recovered lungs are viable for up to 24 hours.

“Podemos viajar con los pulmones distancias más largas”, dijo el Dr. Abou El Ela, cirujano de trasplantes de Michigan Medicine. Realizó el primer caso exitoso de TransMedics en Michigan. "Es tecnología de punta para la preservación de los pulmones fuera del cuerpo y debería ayudar a mejorar la tasa de utilización de órganos".

In 2021, 33 pairs of lungs in Michigan could not be recovered because of those time and geographic constraints. With this innovation, lungs from a donor in Hawaii were successfully transplanted in a patient in North Carolina, a journey of about 4,700 miles. . The company has regularly recorded successful transplants between donors and recipients who are a thousand miles apart.

“Esto amplía enormemente el grupo de destinatarios, lo que nos permite salvar aún más vidas”, dijo Bruce Nicely, vicepresidente de operaciones clínicas de Gift of Life Michigan.

Surgical team standing over TransMedic machine holding lungsTransMedics is also conducting clinical trials on similar technology that would preserve other organs for longer periods of time.

“Estamos emocionados de traer esta nueva tecnología a Michigan”, dijo Dorrie Dils, presidenta y directora ejecutiva de Gift of Life Michigan. “Hay más de 50 personas esperando nuevos pulmones en Michigan. Esto significa más esperanza para ellos y para las miles de personas que esperan un órgano que les salve la vida aquí en nuestro estado y más allá.

“Este avance tecnológico nos ayudará a tener éxito en nuestra misión de honrar la vida a través de la donación”, agregó. “Nuestro objetivo final es ver un día en que nadie muera mientras espera un trasplante que le salve la vida. A medida que la nueva tecnología entra en línea y nos adaptamos a ella, nos acercamos cada vez más a ese día”.

Surgical team in operating room  Surgical team working on donor lungs inside a bowl

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