UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital is using breakthrough technology to expand access to liver transplants
UCHealth is among the first transplant centers in the western U.S. using OrganOx
Aurora, Colo., Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Key Facts:
- UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital has adopted OrganOx technology for liver transplantation.
- The system circulates warm, oxygenated blood, nutrients and medications through a donor liver so it continues to function outside the body.
- Transplant teams can evaluate liver function before surgery and consider donor organs that might have previously gone unused.
UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital is now among a select group of leading transplant centers nationwide using an advanced organ preservation technology that is transforming liver transplantation and expanding access to life-saving care for patients across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region.
Warm perfusion keeps donor livers functioning
The OrganOx system, also being used at other top academic medical centers such as Duke University, Mount Sinai, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania, keeps donor livers functioning outside the body by supplying warm, oxygenated blood, nutrients and medications. This allows transplant teams to better evaluate organ quality and safely use more donor livers, including those that previously may have gone unused due to quality concerns. It also keeps the donor organ viable for transplant longer, allowing for transplant procedures to be more carefully planned, improving coordination, safety and patient experience.
Technology expands the number of donor livers available for transplant
For patients awaiting a liver transplant, the impact of this technology is significant. Across the United States, demand for liver transplants continues to far exceed the number of available donor organs. By enabling physicians to preserve and assess organs in real time, OrganOx allows more livers to be successfully transplanted, increasing access for patients who might otherwise face long waits.
“Every additional organ we can safely use represents a potential lifesaving opportunity for a patient,” said Dr. Trevor Nydam, chief of transplant surgery at UCHealth. “This technology gives us the ability to expand the donor pool and provide more patients with a second chance.”
How OrganOx differs from traditional cold storage
Traditionally, donor livers have been stored on ice for transport. The OrganOx system keeps the liver at near‑body temperature and functioning, enabling transplant teams to assess how well it works before surgery.
Clinical studies have shown this approach can reduce organ injury and improve early transplant outcomes compared to standard cold storage. In addition, the technology extends the amount of time a liver can be preserved, allowing transplant teams to better coordinate surgeries and improve overall patient care.
Bringing advanced transplant technology to the Rocky Mountain region
With the adoption of OrganOx, UCHealth joins other top transplant programs that are helping shape the future of organ transplantation and is the first one in the western U.S. to adopt this technology.
“This places UCHealth alongside the nation’s most advanced transplant centers,” said Dr. Nydam. “It ensures patients in Colorado have access to the same cutting‑edge care available at the country’s other leading institutions.”
For patients and families across Colorado and surrounding states, increased use of donor organs expands availability and more informed decision making, which can lead to fewer complications for recipients and can help reduce time on transplant lists.
About UCHealth
UCHealth is a nationally recognized nonprofit health system that pushes the boundaries of medicine through advanced treatments and clinical trials, improving health through innovation and providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West.
Investing $1.6 billion in community benefits including $762 million in uncompensated and charity care each year, UCHealth is Colorado’s largest Medicaid provider and dedicated to the communities it serves. With the region’s only adult academic medical center, University of Colorado Hospital on the CU Anschutz campus, UCHealth includes 38,000 employees, 15 acute-care hospitals and thousands of physicians across Colorado, Wyoming and western Nebraska.
Attachment
Kelli Christensen UCHealth 720-848-5809 Kelli.Christensen@UCHealth.org
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
