New Data Demonstrate Safety and Effectiveness of Bridge to Life’s VitaSmart Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion (HOPE) System in Partial Graft Pediatric Liver Transplantation
Research was shared during an oral session at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT), a section of The Transplantation Society (TTS). Additional abstracts also provide further evidence supporting the use of HOPE in pediatric liver transplantation.
Duluth, GA, April 24, 2026 – Bridge to Life™ Ltd., a global leader in organ preservation and perfusion technology, announced today that Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion (HOPE), used alongside the VitaSmart™ System, has been shown to be a safe and practical method for organ preservation in pediatric liver transplantation. Findings from a newly presented study suggest that HOPE in combination with the VitaSmart™ System could evolve into a standard of care. The study was presented at the 30th annual meeting of the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT), taking place April 24–26, 2026, in San Francisco, CA.
The study, titled “Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion in the Use of Partial Grafts in Pediatric Liver Transplantation – Towards a New Standard of Care,” was presented by Karla Estefanía, MD, from the Department of Pediatric Surgery and Transplantation at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK, during the Oral Abstract Presentations and Travel Awards session.
“Our analysis of 17 pediatric liver transplant recipients (12 split grafts and 5 reduced grafts) contributes to the increasing body of evidence supporting HOPE’s role in enhancing donor liver quality in pediatric transplantation,” said Dr. Estefanía. “With a 100% death-censored graft survival rate, no cases of primary non-function or early ischemic-type biliary complications, and an approximate 27% reduction in cold ischemic time—an important factor in organ viability, graft performance, and patient outcomes—HOPE shows strong potential to become standard practice for partial graft use in pediatric liver transplantation.”
Don Webber, CEO and President of Bridge to Life Ltd., added, “This research from Birmingham Children’s Hospital builds on earlier studies in pediatric liver transplantation, including those involving partial grafts, and highlights HOPE with VitaSmart™ as a valuable advancement for the transplant community. It also reflects our continued focus on expanding the availability of donor livers and improving patient access to transplantation.”
Additional Positive Clinical Data Supporting HOPE in Pediatric Liver Transplantation
Two poster presentations from studies led by Francisco Hernandez-Oliveros, MD, and colleagues from the Department of Pediatric Surgery at La Paz University Hospital in Madrid, Spain, were also presented at SPLIT 2026 by Dr. Ane Miren Andrés Moreno.
“Hypothermic oxygenated perfusion: Standard of care in pediatric liver transplantation”
- This study included 35 cases involving both donation after brain death (DBD) and donation after circulatory death (DCD), covering whole and reduced-size grafts, as well as single-segment grafts and hepatorenal transplants. The authors concluded that HOPE is a safe and effective approach and has been adopted as standard practice in their program for suboptimal, reduced, and complex pediatric liver grafts.
“Auxiliary split-hope liver transplantation from a donation after circulatory death donor as treatment for pediatric acute liver failure: case report”
- The findings indicate that DCD donors, when combined with normothermic regional perfusion followed by split-HOPE, provide a viable organ source for auxiliary liver transplantation in critically ill pediatric patients experiencing acute liver failure.
About Bridge to Life™ Ltd
Bridge to Life™ Ltd. is a global leader in organ preservation solutions, offering a comprehensive portfolio that includes Belzer UW®, EasiSlush®, and the VitaSmart™ Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion System. Bridge to Life partners with transplant centers and organ procurement organizations worldwide to advance preservation science and support life-saving transplantation.
For more information, visit www.bridgetolife.com.
Contact:
Jennifer Guzman
Global Marketing Director
760-291-7245
J.guzman@B2LL.com
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