| Abstract: | Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the tolerance of warm ischaemia of liver grafts from non‐heart‐beating donors (NHBD). Livers harvested from NHBD would greatly expand the donor pool for transplantation. However, sensitivity of the donor liver to warm ischaemia is a major obstacle to the successful use of livers from NHBD and the limit of non‐heart‐beating time in the donor remains unclear. Materials and Methods : Rat orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in 5 groups (groups 1–5) with non‐heart‐beating time in the donor ranging from zero to 15, 30, 45 and 60 min. The cardiac‐arrest time was counted from clamping the base of the donor’s heart to the beginning of cold flushing the liver. Graft pathological changes, hepatic function and the recipients’ survival rates in each group were compared. Results : With a stepwise increase of the non‐heart‐beating time from zero to 15, 30, 45 and 60 min in donors, the recipient 1‐week survival rates from groups 1–5 were 100%, 75%, 62.5%, 25% and 0%, respectively. The stepwise increase of non‐heart‐beating time significantly reduced recipient survival rates after 30 min. The recipients in groups 1–4 could survive more than 60 days. Conclusions : The liver is less sensitive to warm ischaemia than was formerly believed. Rat liver can be used for transplantation after cardiac arrest for up to 45 min with a chance of survival.      |
