Storage Device Improves Kidney Transplant Outcomes

When a kidney is harvested from a deceased donor, it is traditionally packed in a plastic bag of nutrients and placed on ice in an effort to slow its deterioration in the hours leading up to transplantation. The recent development of special "cold infusion machines," however, could further improve outcomes for kidney transplant patients. These machines attach to the blood vessels that supply the kidney and push a steady flow of cooled solution through the organ. A recent study found that one year after transplantation, 94% of perfused organs were still working, compared to just 90% of the traditionally preserved kidneys.