Donated livers can be made biologically younger

When a donated organ is removed from a donor’s body, it starts to degrade quickly.

Surgeons have two main ways to preserve it before transplantation.

The first method involves flushing the organ with a preservative solution (like the University of Wisconsin solution), placing it in a sterile bag, and storing it on ice.

This is called cold storage and is the most common approach.

The second method, growing in popularity, uses perfusion machines that pump the organ with oxygen and nutrients for 6 to 12 hours, mimicking conditions inside a living body.

This process allows doctors to assess the organ’s health and may improve its function after transplantation.

Perfusion machines cost between €10,000 in Germany and $80,000 to $100,000 in the US per organ, which is a significant expense compared to the overall transplant budget.