Fluorescence spectroscopy for clinical transplantation liver grafts monitoring: possibilities offered by 408 nm excitation

Abstract

Fluorescence spectroscopy techniques have been investigated aiming to reduce the invasiveness of methods for investigation of tissue. In transplantation procedures, it may offer the possibility of a complementary technique for the monitoring of liver grafts' conditions prior to and during the transplantation procedure stages involving cold perfusion. The objective of this study was to evaluate fluorescence spectroscopy under violet light excitation (408 nm) for the monitoring of clinical hypothermic liver transplantation procedures. Organ grafts were monitored from before the removal of the donor's body to 1 h after the implant into the receptor's body. Fluorescence spectroscopy was assessed over five stages within these transplant stages. The study provided evidence of a correlation between fluorescence information collected during liver grafts transplantation and the survival of patients. Fluorescence spectroscopy can become a tool to monitor transplantation grafts, providing objective information for the final decision of surgeons to use organs.