Changes in blood coagulation due to pancreas transplantation in dogs.

Blood coagulation was studied in the course of 11 pancreatectomies and 7 pancreas transplantations. Comparison of the postoperative changes in the fibrinogen level suggests the important role of the normal pancreas in fibrinogen generation. Investigation of the indices of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system revealed in the post-transplantation period a shift in the activity of the coagulation indices towards hypercoagulability. The increased fibrinogen level, the inhibited fibrinolysis and the elevated activity of the coagulation factors are assumed to be responsible for the high incidence of thrombotic complications associated with transplantation of the pancreas.