#USA #Duluth #Medical Research #Bridge to Life #Pediatric Liver Transplant

Establishing New Standards in Pediatric Liver Transplantation

A groundbreaking multicenter study has set the first international reference framework for pediatric liver transplantation, marking a significant milestone in the field. Presented as a late-breaking clinical trial at the International Congress of the International Liver Transplant Society (ILTS) in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 6 to May 9, 2026, the research provides much-awaited benchmarks regarding morbidity, complications, graft survival, and recipient outcomes in pediatric transplant populations worldwide.

Led by Dr. Sapana Verma, MD, PhD, under the mentorship of Professor Andrea Schlegel from the Cleveland Clinic, the study analyzed primary pediatric liver transplants performed between 2000 and 2024 across nine high-volume transplant centers in North America, Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa/Middle East.

Dr. Verma pointed out the significant lack of globally accepted standards for pediatric liver transplantation, stating, “Our goal has been to establish international benchmarks for morbidity and survival following pediatric liver transplantation, as well as to develop a data-driven decision framework for graft selection based on heterogeneous pediatric subgroups.”

The reference cohort exhibited significantly lower overall morbidity, fewer renal, vascular, and biliary complications, and reduced lengths of stay in both intensive care units and hospitals. The model robustly differentiated outcomes among diverse pediatric populations, thereby creating a scalable platform for future global evaluations of quality and risk-adjusted outcome analyses.

Additionally, the researchers are planning to expand this study to a multicenter cohort of at least 10,000 recipients to ascertain definitive global benchmarks and validate outcome thresholds based on age, weight, etiology of liver disease, type of graft, and combined risk profiles of recipients.

Don Webber, president and CEO of Bridge to Life Ltd., remarked on the importance of this research: “Historically, pediatric transplantation has lacked the standardized benchmarks found in adult transplantation. As the field moves toward precise graft evaluation, viability assessment, and optimized preservation strategies, like hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE), having solid reference benchmarks becomes essential. These benchmarks help define not only what success looks like but also how we can enhance access to safe transplants for more pediatric patients globally.”

The research involving Bridge to Life's VitaSmart™ hypothermic oxygenated perfusion system has demonstrated safety and efficacy in pediatric liver transplantation, reinforcing the growing role of mechanical perfusion and viability-based decision-making in this highly specialized population.

As pediatric transplantation evolves toward more individualized graft selection and broader applications of advanced preservation technologies, these emerging benchmarks offer a vital foundation for the next generation of clinical decision-making. While comparative assessments define what is achievable, advanced preservation strategies like HOPE provide promising pathways to align higher-risk grafts with benchmark outcomes.

About Bridge to Life™ Ltd

Bridge to Life™ Ltd is a global innovator in organ preservation technologies and solutions, offering premier products such as Belzer UW®, EasiSlush®, and the hypothermic oxygenated perfusion system, VitaSmart™. With a strong emphasis on quality, innovation, and product accessibility, the company partners with leading transplant centers and organ procurement organizations worldwide.