Two-Layer Method in Short-Term Pancreas Preservation for Successful Islet Isolation

BackgroundWe sought to determine whether the two-layer method (TLM) offers advantages over UW storage solution for locally procured pancreata with cold ischemia time of <8 hours for successful islet isolation.MethodsFrom October 2003 through February 2005, 22 human pancreata were procured locally from cadaveric donors and preserved using UW solution (n = 11) or TLM (n = 11).ResultsDonor characteristics were similar in the two groups, with no statistical difference. Cold ischemia time was 4.5 ± 0.6 (2.5 to 8) hours in the UW and 5.1 ± 0.5 (3 to 8) hours in TLM group (P > .05). Organs preserved with TLM were exposed to PFC for 4 ± 0.5 (2 to 7.5) hours. After TLM preservation, 8 of 11 (72%) pancreata yielded >300,000 IEQ pancreatic islets, which met all criteria for clinical transplantation; after UW cold storage, only 3 of 11 isolations were equally successful (27%) (P < .05). Mean IEQ was higher in the TLM than in the UW group: 349,000 ± 37,000 vs 277,800 ± 34,000; IEQ/g was also higher at 5100 ± 760 vs 3000 ± 570, respectively (P < .05). Islet quality, characterized by purity, viability, and insulin SI, did not differ statistically in the two groups: 67 ± 4 vs 74 ± 4%, 87 ± 2 vs 83 ± 4%, and 4 ± 0.7 vs 4.8 ± 1, respectively (P > .05).ConclusionsThe Two Layer Method for locally procured human pancreata with cold ischemia time lower than 8 hours offers significant advantage over UW cold storage increasing the pancreatic islet isolation yield and the isolation success rate.