title: Surgical complications in solitary pancreas and combined pancreas-kidney transplantations.
abstract: The benefits of pancreas transplantation (PT) must be weighed against the morbidity associated with the operative procedure and long-term immunosuppression. Over a 32-month period, we performed 73 PTs including 61 combined pancreas-kidney transplants (PKT) and 12 solitary PTs. In the PKT group, 25 reoperations were performed in 18 patients (29.5%) at a mean of 39 +/- 12 days after transplant. In the solitary PT group, 16 reoperations were performed in 8 recipients (66.7%, p = 0.03) at a mean of 87 +/- 12 days after PT (p < 0.01). In the PKT group, pancreas allograft survival was 93.4%. Vascular thrombosis resulted in the loss of two pancreas allografts. In the solitary PT group, pancreas allograft survival was 50% (p < 0.001), with 6 transplant pancreatectomies performed for either infectious (5) or vascular (1) complications. Surgical complications after PT are common (35.6% in this series), occur earlier in patients who undergo PKT, and are more frequent and morbid in patients undergoing solitary PT, especially after a previous kidney transplant. An aggressive surgical approach can lead to a high rate of pancreas allograft salvage without jeopardizing either the patient or the renal allograft.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-3280.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stratta
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Langnas
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bynon
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents