Ashish Shah, M.D., endowed chair of cardiac surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has pioneered a procedure for resuscitation of the heart after circulatory death. In situ thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (taNRP) has now emerged as another promising method of maintaining heart function in conjunction with other organs.

"This procedure enables the heart to receive not just blood, but organ-nurturing and maybe even organ rescue benefits."

Shah says in contrast to machine perfusion or traditional recoveries, taNRP resuscitates hearts within minutes of death, bringing oxygen and nutrients to cardiomyocytes, thereby lowering or even reversing ischemic damage. "We also see anecdotal evidence that keeping the hormones and nutrients going to the heart may protect it and render it more functional."