Animal models of ex vivo lung perfusion as a platform for transplantation research

Figure 1 This diagram depicts a schematic of a large animal (porcine) ex vivo lung perfusion circuit (A), the portable stand for the perfusion pump (B), A close up picture of a porcine lung on an ex vivo lung perfusion circuit (C). The ventilator is used to expand the lungs with lung protective ventilation strategies. The volume reservoir contains the perfusates (either sanguineous or acelluar). Centrifugal pumps have the advantage of being able to have the afterload varied and have the circuit clamped easily, which is a challenge with roller pumps. The heater/cooler allows for exact temperature titration. The reservoir, centrifugal pump, membrane oxygenator, and leukocyte filter are all contained on this apparatus. The biodome which houses the large animal lung is visualized with the ventilator circuit attached to the endotracheal tube which directly cannulates the trachea. The inflow and outflow cannulas are at the superior aspect of the lung and the endotracheal tube on image top left.