Telepathology as a method to optimize quality in organ transplantation: a feasibility and reliability study of the virtual benching of liver graft.

AIM: To search feasibility and reliability of Telemedicine Systems (TS) in the procurement of Liver Transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: By an experimental TS, twenty six (n=26) specialists based on a hundred and thirty (N=130) simulated remote image examinations, assessed sensitivity-specificity of the remote examination of Liver Graft (LG) about diseases and damages (Virtual Benching=VB). RESULTS: Analysis showed: injuries (sensitivity=96%), injuries of the capsula (sensitivity=91.7%), hematomas (sensitivity=91,7%), non neplasmatic diseases (specificity=100%), tumors (sensitivity=100%). CONCLUSION: The VB of LG after retrieval is feasible and reliable for prevention of damaged liver grafts from being sent to the recipient hospital and for transplant planning.