Perfusion preservation of rodent kidneys in a portable preservation device based on fluidics technology.

Background: Technology that can implement the basic requirements for successful organ preservation in a portable configuration has yet to be realized.

Methods: This work evaluates kidney preservation in a new class of portable organ preservation technology based on fluidics principles. During hypothermic pulsatile perfusion preservation (HPPP), oxygen consumption, renal vascular resistance (RVR), pH, pCO2, and perfusion pressure were measured. After 24 hr of preservation, perfusate distribution was assessed, and oxygen consumption, RVR, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were compared in perfused, statically stored, and freshly harvested kidneys.

Results: During HPPP, perfusion pressure was 5.8+/-3.3 mmHg with oxygen delivery to the organs in excess of 3.5 times the organ metabolic requirement. During function measurements, RVR was not statistically different in the three groups; however, both oxygen consumption and GFR in the statically stored organs were significantly lower than in HPPP stored or freshly harvested kidneys.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that full portability in a hypothermic perfusion preservation device seems feasible utilizing fluidics-based technology.