LONDON — The NHS is preparing to trial an advanced lung preservation system that could significantly increase the number of successful lung transplants across England and Wales, offering new hope to patients waiting for life-saving surgery.

The technology, known as an ex-vivo lung perfusion system, keeps donated lungs functioning outside the human body for several hours. During this time, specialist teams can carefully assess, treat and improve the organs before transplantation.

Currently, only around one in four donated lungs is suitable for transplantation, with many organs being rejected because of concerns about their condition. Health experts believe the new technology could recover many lungs that would otherwise be discarded, helping to reduce waiting times and save more lives.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended a four-year NHS evaluation of the system to measure its clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness before wider adoption. If successful, hospitals across England and Wales could gain access to the technology in the coming years.

Medical specialists say the innovation could also make organ-sharing between hospitals easier by extending the time available to transport and prepare donated lungs safely.

The development represents another important step in the NHS's investment in advanced medical technology, with the potential to improve transplant success rates and offer renewed hope to hundreds of patients living with severe lung disease.