Human kidney preservation and shipping

Twenty-four consecutive human cadaveric kidneys were preserved by a combination of both extracellular fluid flush and by continuous pulsatile perfusion. Continuous pulsatile perfusion permits routine 24-36-hr preservation and provides an assessment of the functional capacity of the renal vasculature. Extracellular fluid flush has the advantage of its simplicity and suitability to short and long distance transportation. Second continuous pulsatile perfusion can be utilized to extend the preservation period up to 69 hr. Advantages of both methods of preservation complement each other and should be exploited in organ sharing.