The groundbreaking 'lungs in a box' technology, also known as the Organ Care System (OCS), is improving the outcomes for lung transplant recipients by keeping organs alive, functional and able to be tested outside the body.
Pioneered in the UK by Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire, and developed by TransMedics in Massachusetts, the machine has the potential to significantly increase the success and availability of transplants worldwide.
Life-saving innovation
Traditionally, organs are transported on ice, which limits their viability to just five to 10 hours and can result in deterioration and inflammation which reduces their success rate once they’re inside the patient.
The OCS mimics the human body, circulating oxygen and nutrient-rich liquid through the lungs to maintain functionality during transport.
The technique, known as ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP), allows doctors to test and even recondition organs previously deemed unsuitable for transplant.
The OCS was recently used at Royal Papworth in a one-year pilot funded by NHS England, where surgeons estimate it could increase transplant success rates by up to 30%.
Daniel Evans-Smith, a 49-year-old COPD patient from Northampton, became the first NHS recipient of a double lung transplant using the system.
Evans-Smith told the BBC the transplant was life-changing:
"This time last year, I was being told to consider palliative care. Now, I can climb stairs and walk hills without stopping. I can't thank the team enough."
In the US, the technology is under clinical trial, with studies involving more than 250 patients across eight hospitals.
Extending organ viability
Preliminary findings are promising, suggesting the OCS outperforms traditional ice-cooler transportation by extending organ viability and improving transplant outcomes.
The system's portability further enhances its potential. It enables organs to travel farther distances, addressing critical shortages.
"More than 30 or 40 hearts in Hawaii go unused annually due to distance," said transplant surgeon Abbas Ardehali of UCLA.
Royal Papworth, the UK’s leading lung transplant centre, performed 41 transplants in the past year. Surgeons hope the success of the pilot will secure long-term funding for the OCS.
With the potential to redefine organ transplantation, lungs – or hearts – in a box represent a big step toward reducing waiting lists and saving lives globally.