Porcine pancreatic grafts are viable after 16-hr CI following 15-min WI in this experimental nonheartbeating donor model. HTK solution seems to provide reliable graft function in this setting and to be equivalent to UW.

No abstract

Delayed graft function (DEGF) remains an obscure phenomenon in organ transplantation. For the optimal washing of the compounds of the different organ flush solutions, adequate temperature and equilibrium of electrolytes have to be provided. A total of 29 landrace pigs weighing 37.3-5.4 kg were included in this study. According to the model, the left hemipancreas was perfused with Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK)-solution and autotransplanted after 24 h (Gl, n = 13) and 48 h (G2, n = 4) of cold storage (CS). Results were compared with grafts perfused with UW-solution and autotransplanted after 24 h (G3, n = 8) and 48 h (G4, n = 4) CS respectively. Daily measurements of glycemia, glucosuria, amylase and lipase were carried out. HTK perfusion resulted in an increase in wet weight of the grafts after 24 h and 48 h CS ( P = 0.031 vs UW). Postoperative glycemia levels in pancreases flushed with HTK-solution were higher after 48 h than after 24 h CS until the 6th postoperative day, when the glycemia returned to normal range ( P = 0.02), suggesting a delayed endocrine graft function. The mean IVGTT values attained after full function were comparable in G1 and in G3 (-1.22 k 0.23 vs. -1.5 k 0.65). The rises in serum amylase and lipase levels were more pronounced after 48 h CS in both HTK and UW groups, ( P = n.s.). Appearance of interstitial and intracellular edema after CS and reperfusion did not influence the function. Conclusion: HTK-solution is suitable for 24 h pancreatic preservation in vivo; the perfusion requires at least 4 min for electrolyte equilibration. Long preservation time (48 h) resulted in a transitory DEGF.

The use of octreotide following pancreas transplantation did not prevent pancreatic fistula formation from the anastomosis neither from the pancreatic capsule in pancreas transplantation with enteric drainage. Further studies are required to finally evaluate the benefit of this prophylactic treatment.

This study shows for the first time the PlGF upregulation in regenerating livers, which is related to hypoxia stimulation and liver growth. The swift PlGF upregulation immediately after PH may indicate an important role for the PlGF/Flt-1 pathway in the early stage of liver regeneration.