Hypothermic machine perfusion versus static cold preservation in kidney transplantation

The adequate preservation of the allograft prior to kidney transplant is key for a good outcome after transplantation. Currently, there are two main methods: hypothermic machine perfusion and static cold preservation. The main objective of this summary is to compare both preservation systems.

We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach.

We identified 10 systematic reviews including 34 primary studies, of which 13 were randomized trials. We concluded preservation by hypothermic machine perfusion probably decreases the risk of delayed graft function and could lead to a slight increase in graft survival. However, there are no differences in patient survival between the two methods.