RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Establishing a Reference Framework for Outcomes After Machine-Preserved Liver Transplantation in Europe

This study is gathering information on how well liver transplants work when the donor liver has been kept healthy using special machines. Doctors now routinely use these machines to preserve livers before transplantation. However, older ways of measuring success in liver transplants don't always account for these new techniques. This means we need updated information to understand the best possible outcomes with modern machine preservation. The study will look at many liver transplants across Europe to build a new set of guidelines, helping doctors understand which machine preservation methods lead to the best results for patients undergoing liver transplantation.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University Medical Center Groningen

Enrolment target

10,000

Start

21 Apr 2026

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2030

End-stage Liver Disease (ESLD)Acute Liver Failure Liver Cirrhosis Liver Transplantation

What is this study about?

Imagine a donated liver needs to travel to a patient who needs a transplant. For a long time, the liver was kept on ice. Now, special machines can keep the liver alive and healthy by gently pumping it with oxygen-rich fluid. This process, called machine perfusion, has become a normal part of liver transplantation and has really improved how long livers stay healthy and how well they work after a transplant.

Because these machine techniques are quite new, and there are different ways to do it, we need to understand which methods work best. The problem is, many of the old ways we measured success in liver transplants were created before these machines were widely used. This study wants to create a new, up-to-date guide based on what's happening in hospitals right now. It will collect information from many transplants in Europe where these machines were used.

By doing this, doctors will have a clearer picture of the best possible results they can achieve with different machine preservation methods. This will help them make better decisions about how to care for donor livers, aiming for the best possible outcome for patients receiving a liver transplant. It's all about making sure patients get the healthiest liver possible and have the best chance of a successful recovery.

Key takeaways

This study helps understand the best ways to keep donor livers healthy.
It uses information from past liver transplants in Europe.
The goal is to improve outcomes for future patients needing a liver transplant.
It aims to create new standards for liver preservation techniques.
Participation involves no extra tests or appointments for you.
Your privacy and medical information will be protected.

Who may be eligible?

You might be included in this study if you are an adult (18 or older) who has had a liver transplant in Europe. The donated liver you received must have been from someone who has passed away, and it could have been preserved using either the traditional method of keeping it cold, or with one of the newer machine preservation techniques.

This study is looking at common hospital practices, so if your liver was preserved as part of a special experiment or a different type of clinical trial comparing new preservation methods, you would not be included. Also, if you received a liver from a living donor, this study would not apply to you. The researchers need to be able to look at your medical information for at least 12 months after your transplant.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Did you have a liver transplant where the liver came from a deceased donor?
Was your liver preserved using either cold storage or a machine perfusion method?
Was your transplant part of standard care, not a trial comparing new methods?
Did you receive your transplant at least 12 months ago?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This is a study that looks back at existing medical records, so you wouldn't need to do anything new or extra. The researchers will gather information from your past liver transplant, including details about how the donor liver was preserved and how you recovered afterwards. There are no study visits, extra tests, or new medications involved for you. The study simply collects information already present in medical files, ensuring your privacy is protected. They will need to follow your health journey for at least 12 months after your transplant.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study only involves looking at existing medical records, there are no direct medical risks or benefits to you as a participant. You won't undergo any new procedures or take any new medications. The potential benefit is that the information gathered will help future liver transplant patients by improving our understanding of the best ways to preserve donor livers, which could lead to better transplant outcomes. You also have the right to withdraw your consent for your anonymised data to be used at any time, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (9)

Medical University of Vienna
Verified postcode
Vienna, Austria· Not yet recruiting
University Hospitals Leuven
Verified postcode
Leuven, Belgium· Not yet recruiting
University Hospital Essen
Verified postcode
Essen, Germany· Not yet recruiting
A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza
Verified postcode
Torino, Italy· Recruiting
University Medical Center Groningen
Verified postcode
Groningen, Netherlands· Recruiting
Karolinska Institutet
Verified postcode
Stockholm, Sweden· Not yet recruiting
University Hospital Basel
Verified postcode
Basel, Switzerland· Not yet recruiting
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom· Not yet recruiting
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom· Not yet recruiting

Common questions

What is 'machine perfusion'?

It's a modern way of keeping a donated liver healthy and strong by gently pumping it with oxygen and nutrients using a special machine before it's transplanted into a patient.

Why is this study important?

It helps doctors understand which machine preservation methods work best, so they can make better choices to improve the success rates for future liver transplant patients.

Do I need to do anything if I'm part of this study?

No, you don't need to do anything. This study simply collects information from your existing medical records from your past transplant.

Will my personal information be kept private?

Yes, all your medical information will be handled with strict confidentiality and anonymised, meaning your name won't be linked to the data.

Will this study change my current medical care?

No, this study looks at past information and will not affect your ongoing medical care or treatment in any way.

How to find out more

Sabrina Stimmeder, MD

s.stimmeder@umcg.nl ‭+31503612896‬ Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.