Prospective randomised multicentre trial investigating liver preservation with Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK) by simple aortic perfusion in comparison to aortic perfusion plus ex situ arterial flushing

ISRCTN ISRCTN78500982
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN78500982
Secondary identifying numbers 2007-002 KKS
Submission date
09/07/2007
Registration date
10/08/2007
Last edited
29/10/2021
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Gerd Otto
Scientific

Director of Transplantation and Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery
University of Mainz
Langenbeckstr. 1
Mainz
55131
Germany

Study information

Study designRandomised, controlled, multicentre, parallel group, two-armed trial. The grafts will be delivered to the transplant centre in a blinded way.
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Scientific titleProspective randomised multicentre trial investigating liver preservation with Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK) by simple aortic perfusion in comparison to aortic perfusion plus ex situ arterial flushing
Study acronymPerfusionsstudie
Study hypothesisMain question of the trial:
Does Ischaemic Type Biliary Lesions (ITBL) occur less frequently in a liver preserved by aortic perfusion plus ex situ arterial flushing than in a liver preserved by simple aortic perfusion?
Ethics approval(s)Received from the local ethics committee (Landesarztekammer Rheinland-Pfalz) on the 27th April 2007 (ref: 837.364.05 [5462]). The ethics committees of all other trial centres have to approve the study before the centres could start with their trial participation.

NOTE: In this study dealing with liver transplantation, only the Central Region of the German Foundation for Organ Transplantion (Region Mitte der Deutschen Stiftung Organtransplantation) is recruting. All other centres are "only" implanting the organs and making the follow-up.
ConditionLiver transplantation after preservation in brain-death organ donors
InterventionAortic in situ perfusion versus aortic in situ perfusion plus arterial back-table ex situ flushing.

At the beginning of the process of abdominal dissection, a tube is placed into the abdominal aorta (or into a common iliac artery). The perfusate (HTK [Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate] solution) is connected to this tube. Usually a perfusion pressure of 100 to 150 cm water column is applied which is realised by elevation of the plastic bag containing the fluid. When the liver is dissected free in order to be retrieved the perfusion is started. At least 8000 ml of solution have to be used.

In the control group the approach of preservation is stopped at this point, the liver is retrieved, put into plastic bags containing preservation solution and is forwarded to the transplant centre of the respective patients to whom the graft was allocated by Eurotransplant.

In the case of additional ex-situ arterial perfusion, the liver is retrieved and placed into an ice water dish. There all branches of the hepatic artery are tied, a cannula is placed into the artery at is origin and the ex-situ perfusion is performed. For ex-situ perfusion, 300 ml of the perfusate at a pressure of 100 cm water column is used. After that procedure, the graft is forwarded in the identical way as for non-ex-situ perfused grafts.

The transplantation itself is going to be performed at the discretion of the respective centre. Follow-up will be six months.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Specified
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK)
Primary outcome measureRate of ITBL six months after transplantation.
Secondary outcome measures1. Rate of ITBL or death within six months after transplantation
2. Parenchymal function following transplantation
3. Documentation and analysis of adverse events

All secondary outcomes are measured within six months after transplantation.
Overall study start date09/07/2007
Overall study end date31/10/2009

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupNot Specified
SexNot Specified
Target number of participants126 - 174 depending on the result of the interim
Total final enrolment242
Participant inclusion criteriaFor the graft:
1. Liver graft retrieved in the Central Region of the German Foundation for Organ Transplantion (Region Mitte der Deutschen Stiftung Organtransplantation [DSO])
2. Donor 18 - 80 years
3. Graft allocation to a participating centre

For the recipient
1. Informed consent
2. Age 18 - 80 years
3. Standard criteria for liver transplantation (e.g. liver dysfunction because of cirrhosis, carcinoma)
Participant exclusion criteriaFor the graft:
1. Liver cirrhosis
2. Liver intoxication
3. Liver dysfunction
4. Liver trauma
5. Graft not transplantable (decision according to Standard Operating Procedures [SOP])
6. Liver split

For the recipient:
1. Standard criteria for liver transplantation
Recruitment start date09/07/2007
Recruitment end date31/10/2009

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Germany

Study participating centre

Director of Transplantation and Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery
Mainz
55131
Germany

Sponsor information

Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz (Germany)
University/education

University Mainz
Dekan des Fachbereiches Medizin
Obere Zahlbacher Str. 63
Mainz
55131
Germany

Website http://www.klinik.uni-mainz.de
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/023b0x485

Funders

Funder type

University/education

Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz (Germany)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing planNot provided at time of registration

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 26/06/2017 29/10/2021 Yes No

Editorial Notes

29/10/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added from the reference.