ABSTRACT
Both immunologic and technical problems have limited the use of clinical pancreas transplantation. Sparse knowledge of the long-term effects of duct obstruction and acinar atrophy on islet cell function is available. One of the more severe difficulties has been the management of the exocrine pancreas. Arterial bleeding, either from the anastomosis or from nonligated tributaries, can mostly be stopped by an extra suture. Sodium pentobarbital, 50 mg/kg body weight i.p. is preferred for the donor operation, as this gives a reliable anesthesia for the duration of the operation. The recipients demonstrate a very rapid weight gain and reach their prediabetic body weight about 14 days after transplantation. A microsurgical technique for pancreas transplantation in the rat is described, and experiences with the technique in 78 diabetic recipients are referred. The pancreatic ducts are ligated at the time of donor pancreatectomy, and the graft is anastomosed to the abdominal aorta and vena cava of the recipient.
