HYPOTHERMIC MACHINE PERFUSION VERSUS STATIC COLD STORAGE IN KIDNEY PRESERVATION FOR TRANSPLANTATION: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage kidney disease, but its outcomes also depend on organ preservation before transplantation. Therefore, it is important to understand the differences between the preservation methods used. This study aims to compare hypothermic machine perfusion and static cold storage regarding delayed graft function, renal recovery, and graft survival after transplantation. This integrative literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases in October 2026, with the search terms “Kidney Transplantation”, “Hypothermic Machine Perfusion”, and “Static Cold Storage”, using the Boolean operators “AND” and “OR”. Initially, 216 articles were identified. The selection included studies published between 2016 and 2026, conducted in humans, with full texts available in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Duplicates and studies unrelated to the topic were excluded. A total of 25 articles were included in the analysis. An association was observed between hypothermic machine perfusion and a lower incidence of delayed graft function, as well as reduced dialysis requirements in some studies. However, benefits regarding graft survival were not consistent. Therefore, further research is needed to clarify the outcomes of different preservation strategies.