Dr Sutherland Abstract

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUTO-ISLET DOSE AND INSULIN-NEEDS IN PATIENTS WHO UNDERWENT COMPLETE PANCREATECTOMY T. Jie1, J. Ansite1, T. Gilmore1, D. Fraga1, R. Kandaswamy1, B. Hering1, D. Sutherland1 1DIIT, Dept of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States Background: Since immunological damage to the transplanted islets is presumptively absent, islet autotransplant in patients underwent complete pancreatectomy to alleviate chronic pancreatitis pain provides a unique opportunity to study the relationship between islet dose and insulin-needs posttransplant. Methods: Retrospective review of complete pancreatectomy performed at a single institution since 2000. Islets were prepared by collagenase digestion and immediately infused into the portal vein. If portal pressure exceeded 30 cm H2O, the residual islets placed in alternative sites (Fig 1). Results: Although patients were given insulin post-operatively, 14 patients weaned off insulin eventually (Independent), 14 patients were off insulin and required insulin during medical crises (Intermittent), and 13 patients were never able to wean off insulin during the follow up period (Dependent).

Back to Islet Transplants