New technique can repair damaged lungs for transplant

Toronto, Canada, December 25: There is a bright ray of hope for lung patients who need a transplant. As per a latest advancement in this regard, surgeons in Toronto have developed a technique that can repair damaged lungs so as to make them fit for transplant.

The name of this technique is called ‘perfusion’. It involves keeping the donated lungs at body temperature for a period of about 18 hours. This is done with the help of a ventilator and a bloodless solution. During this time, the lungs undergo ‘perfusion’, i.e. a solution of oxygen, proteins and other nutrients is pumped into them.

Earlier, the donated lungs were kept on ice after being taken out from a dead person. But due to the freezing temperature, the cell metabolism is not performed properly and this ultimately damages the lungs.

90 percent of lungs donated worldwide are rendered useless as they get damaged during brain death when they are kept under ventilationdefine in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

But the latest technology can help repair the damaged lungs by upto 55 percent. This technique was demonstrated over the weekend by the doctors with the help of a video. The video revealed how lungs were repaired and then successfully transplanted into a 56-year old patient.

The lungs were shielded inside a glass chamber and could be seen functioning normally as if they were inside a body.

The lungs that were repaired by surgeons were damaged due to inflammation. But they were repaired using the ‘perfusion’ technique and then transplanted into the patient.

“To see these lungs that are damaged and 12 hours later are perfect is fascinating. Worldwide, this strategy could easily double the number of lung transplants that are done... It's a phenomenally exciting advance,” said Shaf Keshavjee, lead surgeon.

Surgeons are hopeful that in future new techniques will be developed that can help in repairing other damaged organs like the liver and kidneys. This might decrease the number of patients who die due to non-availability of organs needed to be transplanted.