April is National Donate Life Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Cleveland Clinic surgeons are utilizing new technology to help preserve livers before they are transplanted, recognizing that every second counts in organ donation. Dr. David Reich, the surgical director of the liver transplant program at Cleveland Clinic Florida, explains that traditional ice coolers used to store organs are not the healthiest way to sustain an organ that will be transplanted.

The new machine perfusion technologies allow for the liver to be kept somewhat alive between the donor and the recipient by pumping oxygenated blood or solution through the donor’s liver outside of the body. This process helps to improve the quality of the organ, giving surgeons the opportunity to thoroughly examine the liver to determine if it is healthy enough for transplantation or if further rejuvenation is needed. Research has shown that perfusion has helped reduce the risk for complications and improved outcomes for patients.

Dr. Reich highlights that the use of perfusion technology has led to patients going home from the hospital sooner, experiencing fewer complications, and having better safety during the transplant procedure. Ongoing research is being conducted on the use of this new technology, which has shown promise and is now being considered for other types of organ transplants as well. National Donate Life Month serves as a reminder of the life-saving impact of organ donation and the importance of continuing advancements in transplant technologies.