SENTINEL skin flaps
What is a sentinel skin flap?
A SENTINEL skin flap is a patch of skin taken from the same donor as the organ transplant that is transplanted onto the recipient at the same time A flap is the name for a patch of skin that is transplanted with its blood supply
In this study, all patients will receive the lung transplant as routine care, with half also receiving a skin flap transplant. If the skin transplant can act as a rejection monitor for lung transplants, we can reduce the immunosuppression drug levels. It may also give us an earlier warning of possible rejection, and avoid rejection injury to the lungs. In the future we may be able to reduce the number of hospital visits and tests patients would need to undergo.
Previous research
SENTINEL skin flaps (SSFs) were first used in a study involving intestinal transplants. In this study, we discovered that the skin displayed a visible rash between 1-10 days before the transplant was rejected. The skin also guarded against rejection. The risk of developing organ rejection dropped from 80% to 25% in patients who had a SSF. This has also been seen in pancreas and kidney transplant patients who received an SSF. Some patients found they did not need routine biopsies or tests for rejection, and when the skin indicated there was rejection, they could increase their medication.