Ex vivo approach to treat failing organs: expanding the limits

Background: Advanced organ failure is often classified as an end-stage disease where the treatment options are limited only to transplantation. As an alternative, different attempts have been undertaken to improve the outcome of the treatment of failing organs by using targeted ex vivo approaches. This may solve the issue of organ shortage by treating the donor organs before transplantation and the number of patients requiring transplantation may also be reduced by applying extensive ex vivo treatment followed by autotransplantation.

Methods: We performed a literature review of PubMed and included articles published between 1962 and 2013. The following keywords were used (and; or): ex vivo, therapy, surgery, organ perfusion and autotransplantation. This review includes specific methods and attempts related to ex vivo organ perfusion and preservation, temporary life support systems, surgical and other therapeutic approaches, and diagnostic methods applied ex vivo to an isolated organ.

Results: For the practical clinical use of ex vivo therapies, we could identify three major directions: (1) ex vivo pretransplant organ reconditioning, (2) ex vivo surgery and (3) ex vivo medical treatment. Different attempts have been made worldwide in the above-mentioned areas focusing on ex vivo organ preservation and treatment. We summarize in the present review the developments in the field of ex vivo organ recovery and evaluate the possibilities of combining and applying different technologies such as organ perfusion and storage, ex vivo exact topographical diagnosis, ex vivo locoregional medical treatment and ex vivo surgical correction.

Conclusion: Ex vivo therapies open new horizons in the treatment of end-stage organ pathologies.