Outcome and morbidity of pancreas transplantation in a single Spanish institution.
BACKGROUND
Pancreas transplantation is nowadays the only treatment to reestablish normal blood glucose in diabetic patients. Moreover, transplantation may also prevent and possibly even revert diabetes-related complications. We present our results with the first 4 years of a pancreas transplantation program.


METHODS
From February 2000 to June 2004, we performed 43 pancreas transplants in 42 recipients. In all cases the technique was enteric drainage of the exocrine secretions and systemic venous derivation to the inferior vena cava for endocrine secretions.


RESULTS
A simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant was performed in 37 (88.1%) patients, a pancreas after kidney in 4 (9.5%) patients, and a retransplant in 1 (2.4%) patient. Glycosylated hemoglobin and C peptide returned to normal values in all cases. Patient and graft survivals were 91% and 84%, respectively, after a median follow-up of 19 months. The rate of reoperations was 31% with an overall 16% graft loss.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results were comparable to those of larger series.
Navarro
A
A
Hospital Carlos Haya, Malaga, Spain. niebla@telefonica.net
Castro
M J
MJ
Cabello
M
M
Aranda
J M
JM
Burgos
D
D
Lopez
B
B
Perez
A
A
Solas
E
E
D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome