The Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire has piloted the use of the XPS system, nicknamed “lungs in a box,” a machine that keeps lungs alive outside the body and could increase lung transplants by 30%. The system uses ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to improve and test lungs deemed “borderline” for transplantation, allowing for their successful use.
Daniel Evans-Smith, a COPD patient, became the first NHS recipient of a double lung transplant using the system. He had faced a critical prognosis but now enjoys improved mobility and plans to fundraise for the hospital. The technique addresses the shortage of donor lungs and reduces transplant wait times, which average 18 months in the UK.
The 12-month trial, funded by NHS England and the Royal Papworth charity, has shown promising results. Surgeon Marius Berman emphasized its potential to save lives and hopes for continued funding. The simplicity of the XPS system makes training easier and avoids the high costs associated with alternative technologies.