Because of the high degree of surgical stress following total pancreatectomy in addition to the sudden removal of pancreatic exocrine function, it is difficult to maintain stable blood sugar values by the conventional manual method for controlling postoperative blood sugar.
Blood sugar during the postoperative acute period was controlled in eight cases who used artificial pancreatic islets, from among 13 cases who had undergone total pancreatectomy. The use of artificial pancreatic islets not only facilitated stable blood sugar control, but also the determination an appropriate glucose-insulin ratio during its use. A comparatively stable blood sugar level could therefore be obtained even after its removal.
The necessary volumes of insulin were 20 units on the day of surgery, 30 units on the first day after surgery, 40 units on the second day, 50 units a week after and 29 units two weeks after, decreasing to 28 units three after surgery, corresponding to the maintenance period.
Hereafter, it is desirable to prevent occlusion of the tube for taking blood to improve the stability of oxidase fixed membranes and to miniaturize the device.