First-of-its-kind liver perfusion tech could expand transplant possibilities

First-of-its-kind liver perfusion tech could expand transplant possibilities

26 June 2026 - Wits University

Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre installs Africa's first liver perfusion machine.

In South Africa, organ shortages remain a significant barrier to life-saving transplant care, with fewer than two organs being donated for every million people.

The liver perfusion machine keeps donor organs viable outside of the body for extended periods of time, improving the accessibility and outcomes of transplants in South Africa.

Organs that might previously have been deemed too risky to use can now be evaluated more thoroughly, potentially increasing the number of organs that can be safely transplanted.

"Too many patients in South Africa deteriorate while waiting for a transplant because there are simply not enough donor organs available," says Dr Bilal Bobat, Specialist Gastroenterologist at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC).

Expanding possibilities in transplant care

Now, the liver perfusion machine changes how much information the transplant team has available, allowing them to monitor blood flow, metabolic activity and signs of injury, before deciding whether to proceed with transplantation.

The hospital alone has more than 30 patients on a waiting list for a liver transplant, and close to 600 waiting for a kidney transplant.

Traditionally, donor organs are preserved on ice, and the transplant must be performed within 10 hours. This means clinicians have limited time and information to assess organ quality, and are often required to make difficult decisions under high pressure. The new liver perfusion machine is able to keep the organ viable, providing real-time data monitoring the condition and functioning of the organ.

Compared to traditional cold storage, this technology has the potential to increase organ utilisation, reduce complications and improve transplant outcomes for patients who may otherwise not survive the wait.

Teaching, learning and innovation in action

The WDGMC is the first private academic hospital in South Africa. It is home to the largest transplant unit in South Africa, and the only one in sub-Saharan Africa offering living donor liver transplants for children.

Having performed over 1 000 liver transplants, the programme represents decades of expertise, innovation and collaboration. The WDGMC Transplant Unit is internationally recognised for its contribution to specialised transplant care, research and surgical training.

"This technology represents an important milestone for transplant care in a country with severe organ shortages, where every organ counts. For patients on the waiting list, this technology provides a greater chance of receiving a suitable organ in time, increasing the pool of viable organs and reducing uncertainty," says Bobat.

For clinicians, this new technology is expected to reduce rates of post-transplant complications, shorter hospital stays, and improved recovery outcomes.

The introduction of perfusion technology at the WDGMC has the potential not only to transform specialised clinical transplant care, but also transplantation research, teaching and innovation in Africa.

While the technology represents an important advancement in liver transplantation, clinicians stress that increasing organ donation awareness remains critical for improving access to life-saving transplants in South Africa.

"As a transplant programme, our responsibility extends far beyond the operating theatre," says Professor Jerome Loveland, Head of Solid Organ Transplantation at WDGMC. For the transplant teams, this marks not only a clinical advancement but the beginning of a broader effort to continue strengthening transplant medicine in South Africa.