Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) or abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (A-NRP) is a procedure that involves using a portable heart-lung machine to pump oxygenated blood through a deceased donor's body, preserving the quality of organs for transplantation.
NRP has the potential to increase the availability of suitable organs for transplantation, potentially eliminating liver waiting list deaths if used nationwide.
The technique has been adopted by half of the organ procurement organizations in the U.S.
NRP replenishes oxygen deprivation in organs during the dying process, resulting in healthier organs for transplantation. It involves restarting blood flow and sometimes a heartbeat after the donor has been declared dead.
Critics argue that NRP violates ethical norms around determining death.
The NRP research team includes ethicists, surgeons, and specialists in kidney and liver transplants.
The NRP process uses a full bypass modified circuit with a reservoir to maintain optimal perfusion pressures, allowing for practical assessments of the heart's function during preservation.
Sources: Futurism, NPR, CBC, KGOU, Technocodex, Tittle Press, Cardiovascular Business, Nation Talk, Canoe, EurekAlert, Global News
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
