Cold ischemia or topical-ECMO for lung preservation: a randomized experimental study.
Mariani AW, Medeiros IL, Pego-Fernandes PM, et al.Sao Paulo Medical Journal. 2014; 132; 28-35.
Aims
To investigate the preservation quality of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or regular cold ischemia (CI) for lung transplantation.
Interventions
Interventions: Lungs were subjected to either topical ECMO at 8°c or cold ischemia where they were stored in a bag containing preservation solution at 4-7°c. Both interventions lasted for eight hours.
Participants
Seven sets of lungs retrieved from brain dead donors.
Outcomes
The study outcomes included oxygenation capacity, pulmonary artery pressure, and histological variables including lung injury score and apoptotic cell count.
Follow-up
Not reported.
CET Conclusions
This experimental study does not really add any weight to any comparison between topical ECMO and static cold storage given its small size (14 lungs). However, it does provide further information regarding the feasibility and safety of topical ECMO. Superiority of one technique over the other has not really been demonstrated yet. In fact, we cannot say that equivalence has been demonstrated satisfactorily either. This may be the first comparative study of its type, but it does not take us beyond the clinical cases that have already been published.
Data analysis
Per protocol analysis
Trial registration
Not reported.