Biosurveillance and reporting of adverse events in organ donation and transplantation: a systematic review

Objective: To synthesize and critically evaluate the scientific evidence from observational studies on biosurveillance systems and adverse event reporting in organ donation and transplantation.Methods: Systematic review of observational studies following the recommendations of the Methodological Guidelines (REBRATS) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Primary studies and case reports on biosurveillance and/or adverse events in organ donation and/or transplantation, without restriction of publication date or language were included. Six electronic databases were used in the scientific literature search: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) (via PubMed), Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), Web of Science, LILACS, Scopus and the electronic library Scielo. A data search was also performed in the following secondary databases: Notify -World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Google Scholar. The MINORS tool was used to assess the quality of studies.Results: 551 studies were identified, and after the evaluation steps, eight of them were included in the systematic review. These were divided into results, processes and strategies for preventing adverse events. Regarding the classification of the quality of studies, two obtained a good classification.Conclusion: The results indicate the occurrence of adverse events at some stage of the organ and tissue donation and transplantation process, such as: adverse drug-related reactions; neurotoxicity; longer length of hospital stay; surgical reinterventions; falls; coma; death; graft failure or loss. The fact that adverse events are possibly still underreported is noteworthy.