UNIVERSITY-OF-WISCONSIN VERSUS ST-THOMAS-HOSPITAL SOLUTION FOR HUMAN DONOR HEART PRESERVATION

Prolongation of the safe period of ischemia of the heart is an efficie nt way to overcome donor organ shortage, as demonstrated in renal and hepatic transplantation. We present the results of a prospective, rand omized study comparing preservation with University of Wisconsin solut ion (UWS) versus St. Thomas' Hospital solution (STS) in clinical heart transplantation. A total of 39 patients were enrolled in the study (n = 20 for UWS and n = 19 for STS). Hemodynamic, electron microscopic, and biochemical evaluation did not reveal any significant differences in postoperative myocardial performance. Only the number of intraopera tive defibrillations (0.82 for UWS versus 1.7 for STS) and the rhythm stability after reperfusion (13/20 UWS hearts versus 6/19 STS hearts i n sinus rhythm) were significantly different. Heart preservation with UWS and STS appears to be of comparable efficacy at mean ischemic time s of less than 4 hours.