Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026
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Functional Human Liver Preservation and Recovery by Means of Subnormothermic Machine Perfusion
Published on: April 27, 2015
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Outcome reporting for liver transplantation machine perfusion studies: a systematic review
Sangeeta Satish1,2, Ayesha A Qureshi3, Fariba Abbassi4,5
1Transplantation Center, Cleveland Clinic, OH, USA.
Eclinicalmedicine
|January 16, 2026
Summary
Machine perfusion in liver transplantation shows variable outcomes due to inconsistent reporting. Standardized core outcome sets are crucial for comparing techniques like hypothermic and normothermic perfusion and improving future innovations.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology and Transplant Surgery
- Medical Device Technology
- Clinical Trial Methodology
Background:
- Machine perfusion (MP) in liver transplantation (LT) is associated with variable post-transplant outcomes.
- Core outcome sets (COS) aim to standardize reporting but their quality in MP LT studies is underexplored.
- This study assesses outcome reporting quality in MP LT research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the quality of outcome reporting in studies utilizing machine perfusion for liver transplantation.
- To identify variations in the reporting of post-transplant outcomes across different MP techniques.
- To highlight the need for standardized reporting guidelines in MP LT research.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of MP LT studies published between January 2018 and June 2025.
- Inclusion of studies using normothermic (NMP), hypothermic (HMP), or normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) with >10 cases.
- Assessment of risk of bias and analysis of reported core outcome metrics and their definitions.
Main Results:
- 166 articles met inclusion criteria, with 35 HMP, 55 NMP, and 34 NRP studies.
- Hypothermic perfusion studies reported the highest median number of COS (9.0), while NMP studies reported the lowest (5.0).
- Patient/graft survival and primary non-function were frequently reported; complication metrics like Clavien-Dindo were poorly assessed, with significant heterogeneity in definitions and time points.
Conclusions:
- Significant variability exists in reporting post-transplant complications in liver transplantation studies using machine perfusion.
- Standardized definitions and guidelines for core outcome sets are essential for rigorous comparison of perfusion techniques.
- Improving reporting consistency will facilitate the evaluation of MP technologies and drive innovation in liver transplantation.
