Do not use STEEN SolutionTM if the solution is not clear, the bottle is damaged, the flip-tear seal has been tampered with, or if the “use by” date has expired. Transplant Suitability Post-Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) The responsibility for correct clinical use and interpretation of the lung function evaluations during EVLP in determining transplant suitability resides exclusively with the transplant surgeon.
Like in any other clinical decision, all available data should be taken into consideration when determining the suitability of an organ for transplantation; that is, the transplant surgeon is clinically satisfied with the lung evaluation. This criterion should take priority, since the transplant surgeon is the ultimate responsible person for safely transplanting EVLP lungs. The use of the EVLP lung physiologic evaluations in determining transplantability (e.g., EVLP transplantability criteria) has been evaluated in the clinical studies, including the NOVEL trial (see summary of NOVEL study below). Validation has not occurred as to whether the parameters are adequate as surrogates for in vivo performance.
The use of ex-vivo perfusion/ventilation discrete parameters on their own to determine transplant suitability according to the two sets of transplantability criteria used in the NOVEL and NOVEL EXTENSION respectively have not been validated. Clinicians should exercise discretion when using these criteria as the main decision-making tool for transplantability and instead utilize the perfusion/ventilation trends coupled with EVLP x-rays and bronchoscopies and their clinical expertise to make decisions on transplant suitability. Two different transplant suitability criteria (NOVEL: 2 consecutive delta PaO2s ≥ 350 vs NOVEL Extension: 2 non-consecutive delta PaO2s ≥ 350 OR 1 absolute PaO2 > 400) have been used in the NOVEL and NOVEL EXTENSION respectively, and neither of these criteria have been validated. The transplant suitability criteria between the NOVEL and NOVEL Extension studies have shown no difference in survival and/or incidence of Primary Graft Dysfunction (PGD).