A machine designed to keep organs alive outside the body could significantly increase the number of donated lungs available for transplant in England and Wales. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance recommending the use of the XVIVO perfusion system in the NHS for a four-year period.
NICE estimates that this technology could rescue four in five donated lungs that are currently unused. This could unlock hundreds of organs for transplantation, addressing the UK's low lung transplantation rates.
The machine warms donated lungs to body temperature, pumps a fluid mimicking blood plasma through them, and ventilates them. This process allows transplant teams to monitor lung function, treat infections, drain excess fluid, and reinflate collapsed areas.
While the machine has been trialled at three adult transplant centres, NICE had not previously endorsed its widespread use or approved it for paediatric cases. The new draft guidance aims to ensure all transplant centres can benefit from the technology.