Tissue conservation for transplantation

Pathophysiological changes that occur during ischemia and subsequent reperfusion cause damage to tissues procured for transplantation and also affect long-term allograft function and survival. The proper preservation of organs before transplantation is a must to limit these injuries as much as possible. For decades, static cold storage has been the gold standard for organ preservation, with mechanical perfusion developing as a promising alternative only recently. The current literature points to the need of developing dedicated preservation protocols for every organ, which in combination with other interventions such as ischemic preconditioning and therapeutic additives offer the possibility of improving organ preservation and extending it to multiple times its current duration. This review strives to present an overview of the current body of knowledge with regard to the preservation of organs and tissues destined for transplantation.