Spenderkammer

Spenderkammer, literally donor chamber, is a term used in German-language discussions of organ donation and transplantation to describe a chamber or container designed to preserve and transport donor organs and, occasionally, tissues from procurement to implantation. The concept encompasses both static storage solutions and dynamic preservation approaches.

The primary purpose of a Spenderkammer is to minimize ischemic injury during the interval between organ recovery and transplantation. This involves maintaining sterility, controlling temperature, and providing conditions suitable for preservation solutions or perfusates. Depending on the method, preservation may be static and cold, or dynamic, using machine perfusion that circulates a preservation fluid through the organ to support viability.

Types and methods in practice vary by context and equipment available. Static cold storage places the organ in a cooled container with suitable preservation solution. Dynamic approaches use perfusion devices that actively circulate oxygenated or nutrient-rich fluids, sometimes at controlled temperatures. In German-language sources the term Spenderkammer may be used broadly to refer to the preservation container itself, or to the specific device or system employed for organ transport.

Usage and scope extend across transplant centers and organ procurement organizations. A Spenderkammer is used for various organs, including kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, and pancreas, depending on logistical considerations such as transport time and regional protocols. The term is not uniformly standardized, and professionals may describe the same concept with different phrases depending on institutional practice.

See also: organ transplantation; organ preservation; cold storage; machine perfusion.