Ex Vivo Optimization of Donor Lungs with Inhaled Sevoflurane during Normothermic Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (VITALISE): A Pilot and Feasibility Study in Sheep

T. Steinkühler, S. Yang, M. Hu, J. Jainandunsing, N. Jager, M. Erasmus, M. Struys, D. Bosch, M. van Meurs, M. Jabaudon, D. Richard, W. Timens, H. Leuvenink and G. Nieuwenhuijs-Moeke

Int J Mol Sci 2024;25(4).

DOI PMID Cited by ~1

Volatile anesthetics have been shown in different studies to reduce ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) facilitates graft evaluation, extends preservation time and potentially enables injury repair and improvement of lung quality. We hypothesized that ventilating lungs with sevoflurane during EVLP would reduce lung injury and improve lung function. We performed a pilot study to test this hypothesis in a slaughterhouse sheep DCD model. Lungs were harvested, flushed and stored on ice for 3 h, after which EVLP was performed for 4 h. Lungs were ventilated with either an FiO