['Increasing levels of glycerol in extracellular fluid indicate cell membrane disintegration, and can be continuously monitored with microdialysis. The aim of this study was to monitor liver cell membrane damage during liver transplantation in a pig model.', 'Thirteen donor and recipient pairs were divided into two groups; group I, with a liver ischemia time of 5 h (n = 6), and group II, with 15 h of ischemia (n = 7). Microdialysis samples from the liver graft were collected at 20-min intervals during donor operation, cold preservation, implantation, and reperfusion in the recipient. Glycerol concentrations were analyzed.', 'During cold preservation, a continuous increase in glycerol levels was observed. This increase correlated with the time of cold ischemia (r2 = 0.88). During implantation, an accelerated increase of glycerol was observed, with a higher acceleration in group II (P < 0.005). During the first hour after reperfusion, a higher release of glycerol was observed in group II (P = 0.0005).'] Does hepatic cell membrane damage during cold preservation sensitize liver grafts to rewarming injury?