NICE recommends NHS funding for liver perfusion technology

The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued new guidance recommending routine National Health Service (NHS) funding for ex-situ machine perfusion devices used to preserve deceased donor livers for transplantation.

Following an evaluation, NICE determined that advanced perfusion systems, such as Bridge to Life’s VitaSmart Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (HOPE) System, provide clinical and financial benefits over traditional static cold storage. The guidance noted that hypothermic oxygenated perfusion is associated with improved graft survival and a reduction in biliary complications.