A team at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle has carried out the first kidney transplant in the UK using advanced organ perfusion technology, marking a significant development in transplant medicine. The procedure utilized the XVIVO Kidney Assist system, a next-generation machine that maintains and assesses donor kidneys by circulating oxygenated blood and nutrients outside the body prior to transplantation.
The transplant was performed by honorary consultant transplant surgeon and clinical lecturer Emily Thompson and consultant Colin Wilson, both affiliated with Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust and Newcastle University. Hospital officials reported that the patient has since been discharged and is making a good recovery.
This breakthrough is part of the work underway at the Newcastle Organ Assessment Hub (NOAH), which was established to increase the viability of organs for transplant through enhanced assessment and preservation techniques. The initiative is supported by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), which selected Freeman Hospital as one of 15 pilot sites nationwide to host assessment and recovery centres (ARCs). These centres aim to improve the quality of organs that might otherwise be deemed unsuitable for transplantation.
“Using this new technology allows us to provide the kidney with essential nutrients outside of the body and gives us an opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the organ before transplant,” said Thompson. She credited the success to a collaborative effort involving teams in surgery, perfusion, nephrology, anaesthetics, and theatres. The development was aided by research from the NIHR Blood and Transplant unit focused on organ donation and transplantation, which helped translate the technology into clinical practice.
Funding for the XVIVO Kidney Assist machine was provided by a grant from the Northern Counties Kidney Research Fund awarded to Prof Colin Wilson. Earlier in the year, NHSBT highlighted that expanding the use of organ perfusion technology could increase transplant numbers significantly—potentially facilitating up to 750 additional life-saving or life-enhancing kidney transplants across the UK.
Professor Steve White, head of hepato-pancreato-biliary and transplant surgery at Freeman Hospital, emphasized the potential impact of the pilot program: “Being involved in this initiative could transform care for kidney patients in the future. It exemplifies how research and multidisciplinary collaboration can drive innovation and improve patient outcomes.”
Currently, there are 341 people in the North East awaiting organ transplants, prompting NHSBT to initiate an urgent campaign to increase donation rates. Individuals interested in supporting organ donation can find more information or register their decision through NHS resources.
The success at Freeman Hospital represents a notable advance in organ transplantation efforts, with hopes that wider adoption of perfusion technologies will boost transplant availability and success rates in the UK.