Preservation of Organs for Transplantation Evidence of Detrimental Effect of Rapid Cooling

摘要

It is customary, in organs removed for transplantation, to lower the metabolic rate by rapid cooling. Possible untoward effects of such practice were investigated by assay of the glycolytic enzyme system in canine kidneys and liver. In excised nonperfused organs and in organs undergoing normothermic perfusion the glycolytic activity remained unaffected. With rapid cooling by intraarterial infusion with a chilled solution there was a significant loss in the enzyme activity; the change was greater in the liver than in the kidney. This possibly detrimental effect could be prevented by a more gradual cooling. The obeservations might have clinical implications.