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Updated: Nov 14, 2025
Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging and Quantification of Human Pancreatic Islet Grafting and Contributing Host Cells in the Anterior Eye Chamber
Published on: June 11, 2020
Early detection of complications in pancreas transplants by microdialysis catheters, an observational feasibility
Gisle Kjøsen1,2, Kristina Rydenfelt1,2, Rune Horneland3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Background:
Despite advances in immunosuppression and surgical technique, pancreas transplantation is encumbered with a high rate of complication and graft losses. Particularly, venous graft thrombi occur relatively frequently and are rarely detected before the transplant is irreversibly damaged.
Methods:
To detect complications early, when the grafts are potentially salvageable, we placed microdialysis catheters anteriorly and posteriorly to the graft in a cohort of 34 consecutive patients. Glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol were measured at the bedside every 1-2 hours.
Results:
Nine patients with graft venous thrombosis had significant lactate and lactate-to-pyruvate-ratio increases without concomitant rise in blood glucose or clinical symptoms. The median lactate in these patients was significantly higher in both catheters compared to non-events (n = 15). Out of the nine thrombi, four grafts underwent successful angiographic extraction, one did not require intervention and four grafts were irreversibly damaged and explanted. Four patients with enteric anastomosis leakages had significantly higher glycerol measurements compared to non-events. As with the venous thrombi, lactate and lactate-to-pyruvate ratio were also increased in six patients with graft surrounding hematomas.
Conclusions:
Bedside monitoring with microdialysis catheters is a promising surveillance modality of pancreatic grafts, but differentiating between the various pathologies proves challenging.
