Effect of a novel solution for organ preservation on equine large colon in an isolated pulsatile perfusion system.
Authors: Polyak M M R, Morton A J, Grosche A, Matyjaszek S, Freeman D E
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) remains a significant challenge in equine colic surgery, particularly affecting the large colon; this study investigated whether a modified organ preservation solution (OPS)—originally developed to protect human transplant organs—could maintain colonic tissue viability during prolonged periods without blood or oxygen. Researchers perfused isolated large colon segments from anaesthetised horses using either the experimental OPS (n=7) or autologous blood (n=4) delivered via pulsatile flow for 12 hours, measuring vascular parameters, biochemical markers, and collecting mucosal biopsies at baseline, 6 and 12 hours for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis. The OPS-perfused segments maintained stable vascular resistance, flow, and pressure throughout the full 12-hour period, whilst blood-perfused controls deteriorated after 6 hours; notably, mucosal integrity and expression of inflammatory mediators (cyclooxygenase-1 and -2) and calprotectin remained unchanged in OPS-treated tissue compared to baseline, and were significantly superior to controls. These findings suggest that targeted organ preservation solutions designed to inhibit specific IRI pathways could have clinical applications for preserving colonic viability during prolonged surgical procedures or in resuscitation scenarios where temporary ischaemia cannot be avoided. Further investigation into translating this approach to in vivo models and clinical practice may help improve outcomes in complex colic cases requiring extended operative time or temporary vascular compromise.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This ex vivo research demonstrates a promising preservation solution for equine colon tissue that could improve outcomes for surgical cases requiring colon resection and anastomosis, though clinical application requires further development
- •The ability to preserve colonic integrity without blood for 12 hours may extend the safe window for emergency colic surgery planning and transport in future clinical practice
- •Results are currently limited to laboratory conditions; clinical trials in surgical cases would be needed before this preservation method could be implemented in equine practice
Key Findings
- •Modified organ preservation solution (OPS) maintained constant vascular and biochemical indices over 12 hours of pulsatile perfusion without blood or oxygen
- •OPS-perfused colon segments showed unchanged mucosal integrity, cyclooxygenase expression, and calprotectin activity compared to baseline tissue at 12 hours
- •Control segments perfused with autologous blood showed biochemical deterioration after 6 hours, while OPS group remained stable throughout 12-hour period
- •Modified OPS successfully preserved equine large colon tissue integrity for 12 hours in absence of blood and oxygen, with superior results to blood perfusion controls