Eligibility
Who can join the study?
The sentinel skin flap is an additional monitoring tool used in some transplant procedures. It is not suitable for every patient or every type of transplant. Below are the general eligibility criteria.
Am I Eligible for the Sentinel Skin Flap?
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Liver, pancreas and kidney transplant recipients – particularly those at higher risk of rejection, as the skin flap can provide an early and visible sign of immune response.
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Patients able to undergo a short additional procedure at the time of transplant surgery to create the sentinel flap.
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Individuals who consent to additional monitoring and understand the purpose of the skin flap in research and clinical care.
Who may not be eligible
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Children and adolescents – most current studies focus on adult patients only.
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Patients with poor wound healing or significant skin conditions (e.g., severe eczema, psoriasis, chronic ulcers) that could interfere with flap monitoring.
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Individuals unable to tolerate additional surgical procedures or who have other medical contraindications.
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Patients needing emergency transplants – for example, sudden organ failure due to drugs or other acute conditions. The sentinel skin flap requires advance planning, so it cannot usually be performed in urgent situations.