Early detection of anastomotic leakage after pancreatoduodenectomy with microdialysis catheters: an observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Microdialysis catheters can detect focal inflammation and ischemia, and thereby have a potential for early detection of anastomotic leakages after pancreatoduodenectomy. The aim was to investigate whether microdialysis catheters placed near the pancreaticojejunostomy can detect leakage earlier than the current standard of care. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with a median age 69 years were included. Two microdialysis catheters were placed at the end of surgery; one at the pancreaticojejunostomy, and one at the hepaticojejunostomy. Concentrations of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol were analyzed hourly in the microdialysate during the first 24 h, and every 2-4 h thereafter. RESULTS: Seven patients with postoperative pancreatic fistulae (POPF) had significantly higher glycerol levels (P < 0.01) in the microdialysate already in the first postoperative samples. Glycerol concentrations >400 µmol/L during the first 12 postoperative hours detected patients with POPF with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 93% (P < 0.001). After 24 h, lactate and lactate-to-pyruvate ratio were significantly higher (P < 0.05) and glucose was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in patients with POPF. CONCLUSION: High levels of glycerol in microdialysate was an early detector of POPF. The subsequent inflammation was detected as increase in lactate and lactate-to-pyruvate ratio and a decrease in glucose (NCT03627559).

Early detection of complications in pancreas transplants by microdialysis catheters, an observational feasibility study.

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.

Clinical experience with microdialysis catheters in pediatric liver transplants.

Ischemic vascular complications and rejection occur more frequently with pediatric liver transplants versus adult liver transplants. Using intrahepatic microdialysis catheters, we measured lactate, pyruvate, glucose, and glycerol values at the bedside for a median of 10 days in 20 pediatric liver grafts. Ischemia (n = 6), which was defined as a lactate level > 3.0 mM and a lactate/pyruvate ratio > 20, was detected without a measurable time delay with 100% sensitivity and 86% specificity. Rejection (n = 8), which was defined as a lactate level > 2.0 mM and a lactate/pyruvate ratio < 20 lasting for 6 or more hours, was detected with 88% sensitivity and 45% specificity. With additional clinical criteria, the specificity was 83% without a decrease in the sensitivity. Rejection was detected at a median of 4 days (range = 1-7 days) before alanine aminotransferase increased (n = 5, P = 0.11), at a median of 4 days (range = 2-9 days) before total bilirubin increased 25% or more (n = 7, P = 0.04), and at a median of 6 days (range = 4-11 days) before biopsy was performed (n = 8, P = 0.05). In conclusion, microdialysis catheters can be used to detect episodes of ischemia and rejection before current standard methods in pediatric liver transplants with clinically acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity. The catheters were well tolerated by the children, and no major complications related to the catheters were observed.