Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42876352›Full record

ArticlePediatric transplantation2026

First Split Liver Transplantation Using VitaSmart Hypothermic Machine Perfusion in the United States.

Anastasia M Kahan, Francisca van der Schyff, Todd Robinson, Ivan Rodriguez, Tavis Shaw, Enoch Zenger, M Kyle Jensen, Jean F Botha, Zachary J Kastenberg

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric transplantation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Anastasia M KahanDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0934-056X
Francisca van der SchyffDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9272-5618
Todd RobinsonDepartment of Surgery, Abdominal Transplant Service, Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Health, Murray, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5230-8435
Ivan RodriguezDepartment of Surgery, Abdominal Transplant Service, Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Health, Murray, Utah, USA.
Tavis ShawDepartment of Surgery, Abdominal Transplant Service, Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Health, Murray, Utah, USA.
Enoch ZengerDepartment of Surgery, Abdominal Transplant Service, Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Health, Murray, Utah, USA.
M Kyle JensenDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3072-0554
Jean F BothaDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8411-4800
Zachary J KastenbergDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2561-7539

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDynamic perfusion techniques are increasingly used in liver transplantation to improve graft preservation and support preimplantation assessment. Its reported use in split liver transplantation remains limited. We report the first use of the VitaSmart hypothermic perfusion device for graft preservation during ex situ split in the United States, resulting in the successful transplantation of a right trisection graft into an adult recipient and a left lateral section graft into a pediatric recipient.

methodsA deceased donor liver was split into a right trisection graft for an adult recipient and a left lateral segment graft for a pediatric recipient. Both grafts underwent VitaSmart hypothermic oxygenated perfusion. Donor, graft, perfusion, operative, and early postoperative outcomes were reviewed. The adult recipient was a 63-year-old man with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis cirrhosis. The pediatric recipient was a 4-year-old female with Joubert syndrome, congenital hepatic fibrosis with portal hypertension, and prior renal transplantation.

resultsThe right trisection graft weighed 1001 g, with an estimated graft-to-recipient weight ratio of 1.1. Implantation was performed with bicaval, portal vein, hepatic artery, and duct-to-duct biliary anastomoses. Reperfusion was uneventful, with uniform graft perfusion, normal intraoperative vascular waveforms, and bile production. The left lateral segment graft was implanted using piggyback caval implantation and Roux-en-Y biliary reconstruction. Postoperative Doppler demonstrated patent vessels. Early findings in both recipients demonstrated vascular patency and graft recovery.

conclusionsThis initial experience demonstrates the technical feasibility of incorporating VitaSmart hypothermic machine perfusion into split liver transplantation and highlights its potential role in expanding split graft utilization.

Indexed as

Hypothermia, InducedLiver TransplantationOrgan PreservationPerfusionChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTreatment OutcomeUnited Statescongenital hepatic fibrosisgraft preservationhypothermic machine perfusionpediatric liver transplantationsplit liver transplantation

Identifiers

PMID42876352
PMCPMC13669996

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.