Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41312223›Full record

ReviewTransplant international : official journal of the European Society for Organ Transplantation2025

Navigating a Quandary in Kidney Exchange Programs: A Review of Donor Travel versus Organ Shipment.

Mattheüs F Klaassen, Marry de Klerk, Frank J M F Dor, Sebastiaan Heidt, Stijn C van de Laar, Robert C Minnee, Jacqueline van de Wetering, Liset H M Pengel, Annelies E de Weerd

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Transplant international : official journal of the European Society for Organ Transplantation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Mattheüs F KlaassenDepartment of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Marry de KlerkDepartment of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Frank J M F DorDivision of HPB and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Sebastiaan HeidtDepartment of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Stijn C van de LaarDivision of HPB and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Robert C MinneeDivision of HPB and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Jacqueline van de WeteringDepartment of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Liset H M PengelErasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Annelies E de WeerdDepartment of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In multicenter kidney exchange programs (KEPs), either the explanted kidney must be shipped, or the donor must travel to the transplanting center. This review describes the available data on these two approaches and formulates recommendations for practice. We searched for studies addressing organ shipment or donor travel in KEPs. Data were categorized into four domains: cold ischemia time (CIT), logistics, donor/recipient perspectives and professional perspectives. From 547 articles screened, 105 were included. Kidneys are shipped in most countries. Prolonged CIT due to shipment may increase the risk of delayed graft function, but does not seem to impact graft survival. Planning the shipment requires a robust logistical framework with guaranteed operating room availability. Donor travel is reported to be both emotionally and financially distressing for donors and exposes them to inconsistencies in donor evaluation and counseling across centers. Reduced willingness to participate in KEP when travelling was reported by 36%-51% of donors. Professionals generally support offering organ shipment to donors not willing to travel. In conclusion, the decision between donor travel or organ shipment should be tailored to local circumstances. Healthcare professionals should prioritize minimizing barriers to KEP participation, either by facilitating organ shipment or reducing the burden of donor travel.

Indexed as

Kidney TransplantationTissue and Organ ProcurementTissue DonorsTravelCold IschemiaGraft SurvivalHumansdonor travelkidney paired donationkidney transplantationliving donororgan shipment

Identifiers

PMID41312223
PMCPMC12646967

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.