British team performs 'warm' liver transplants

The team, working at King's College Hospital in London, say the procedure could significantly increase the number of organs available for transplant.

Donor organs are currently put on ice while awaiting transplantation to slow their metabolism, but this often leads to them being damaged.

If the original organ was already damaged in some way, it is often rendered unusable.

The new technology, developed over 20 years by engineers at Oxford University, keeps the liver “warm” by circulating red blood cells through its capillaries.

Once on the machine, the liver functions as it would inside a human body, regaining its color and producing bile.

“It was astounding to see an initially cold grey liver flushing with color once hooked up to our machine and performing as it would within the body,” said Oxford's Professor Constantin Coussios, one of the machine's inventors.

“What was even more amazing was to see the same liver transplanted into a patient who is now walking around.”

The technology is still in its early stages, but its successful use in two transplants at King's College Hospital last month has raised hopes that it could be a game-changer.

Wayel Jassem, consultant liver transplant surgeon at King's, said it gives doctors more time to test the liver to maximize success.

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