An electron microscopic study of pig liver viability after extracorporeal storage.

The effects of hyperbaric oxygenation and ambient pressure oxygenation on the viability of pig liver stored in the Vickers' transportable organ storage unit were assessed by electron microscopy. It was found that hyperbaric oxygenation resulted in marked liver damage in contrast to ambient pressure storage. Although electron microscopy proved to be a sensitive method for detecting damage induced by unsuitable storage protocols consideration is given to the possibility that other changes, which may not be detectable by electron microscopy, limit the success of liver storage.