Autoperfusion of the heart and lungs for preservation during distant procurement.

A modified autoperfusing Starling preparation was used to provide pulmonary and coronary blood flow to extend the period of preservation for heart-lung transplantation. Twenty successful donations were achieved, 14 performed, and both the heart and lungs were well preserved in 14 of them. In four recipients it was not possible to assess the adequacy of preservation. In one recipient the preservation was not satisfactory, and in another the selection of the donor was responsible for poor cardiac function. Ten patients are alive who would not be were it not for this technique.