Machine that keeps lungs alive outside the body set for NHS use

A machine that keeps donated lungs alive outside of the body is set for use on the NHS, offering hope for the 170 people waiting for a new lung.

The move by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) will give organs that would otherwise be discarded a chance to be transplanted. According to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), only 23% of all lungs that meet suitability criteria for transplants are used.

The machine warms donated lungs to body temperature and pumps a fluid through them that mimics blood plasma. It also ventilates them to mimic normal breathing. The machine allows transplant teams to treat infection, drain excess fluid, reinflate collapsed areas and monitor how the lungs are functioning.

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Source: The Independent, 27 July 2026