RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: An ex vivo normothermic porcine pancreas perfusion (ENPPP) model was established to investigate effects of machine perfusion pressures on graft preservation. METHODOLOGY: Nine porcine pancreata were perfused with autologous blood at 50â¯mmHg (control) pressure. Graft viability was compared against four ex-vivo porcine pancreata perfused at 20â¯mmHg ('low') pressure. Arterio-venous oxygen gas differentials, biochemistry, and graft insulin responses to glucose stimulation were compared. Immunohistochemistry stains compared the cellular viability. RESULTS: Control pancreata were perfused for a median of 3â¯h (range 2-4â¯h) with a mean pressure 50â¯mmHg and graft flow 141â¯mLâ¯min-1. In comparison, all of the 'low' pressure models were perfused for 4â¯h, with mean perfusion pressure 20â¯mmHg and graft flow 40â¯mL.min-1. All pancreata demonstrated cellular viability with evidence of oxygen consumption with preserved endocrine and exocrine function. However, following statistical analysis, the 'low' pressure perfusion of porcine pancreata compared favourably in important biochemical and immunohistochemistry cellular profiles; potentially arguing for an improved method for graft preservation. CONCLUSION: ENPPP will facilitate whole organ preservation to be studied in further detail and avoids use of expensive live animals. ENPPP is reproducible and mimics a "donation after circulatory death" scenario.