An additional 200 liver transplants could be carried out per year, if 15 pilot Assessment and Recovery Centres (ARC) set up by NHS Blood and Transplant are successful.
Under the pilot scheme donated organs that might not otherwise have been transplanted are transferred to the specialist centres to have oxygenated fluids passed through them through via machine perfusion technology, meaning the liver can function during storage.
This process creates critical extra time for clinicians to test and assess how well the organs work, so that more can be transplanted with confidence. In future, if the pilot is successful, organs would also receive ‘recovery’ interventions, such as surgical repairs, blood type changes, and cell therapies, further increasing the pool of transplantable organs.
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust said: “For patients and families affected by liver disease, the wait for a transplant can be an incredibly uncertain and anxious time. The launch of the ARCs liver pathway offers real hope by helping ensure more donated organs can be used safely and effectively. This innovative approach has the potential to significantly increase the number of liver transplants carried out each year, offering a second chance to many more people in urgent need.”
The ARCs programme is funded and supported by the UK’s four departments of health, including the Department of Health and Social Care. The first three hospital trusts selected by NHS Blood and Transplant as liver pilot sites are Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Derek Manas, NHS Blood and Transplant Medical Director for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, said: “The ARCs programme will ensure we truly honour the gift of donation by creating unique clinical facilities where precious donated organs can be sent to be evaluated and assessed for suitability to be transplanted. This will ensure more organs are available for transplant, increasing clinical confidence and increasing organ utilisation rates.
“ARCs are part of the NHS’ wider ambition to reduce health inequalities and harness the latest innovations.
“NHSBT’s national network and research capability means we’re well-placed to deliver this service, transforming organ transplantation – and saving more lives.”
