title: Single-center experience using organs after rescue allocation for pancreas transplant in the eurotransplant region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because of the shortage of available organs for transplants, graft allocation polices have been modified recently. This report deals with the effect of using organs after rescue allocation for pancreas transplant in a single center in the Eurotransplant Region to possibly expand the donor pool.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed. Between 2007 and 2010, thirty-one pancreas transplants were performed at the University Hospital of Leipzig, in Leipzig, Germany. Among these, 7 cases used rescue organs. These organs had been officially offered to, but rejected by, at least 3 consecutive transplant centers. Donor/recipient and clinical/laboratory transplant/posttransplant outcomes from patients receiving rescue organs were collected and were compared with organs from conventional donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean donor age was greater in the rescue organ group than in the conventional donor group (28.3 ± 10.7 y vs 23.0 ± 12.5 y). During follow-up (2.3 ± 0.6 y rescue organ group vs 3.9 ± 1.2 y conventional donor group), patient, kidney, and pancreas graft survival rates were 85% in all 3 categories in the rescue organ group, whereas outcomes for conventional donors were 88%, 85%, and 83%. Incidences of pancreatic graft thrombosis, delayed graft function, acute and late rejection episodes (eg, perioperative complications) were comparable between groups. No differences existed between mean serum urea levels and mean HbA1c levels between groups 2 years after transplant. Whereas 2 years after surgery, mean serum creatinine levels (rescue organ group, 78.8 ± 21.0 μmol/L vs 114.3 ± 28.4 μmol/L in the conventional donor group) showed significant differences between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results are promising. Further pro-spective studies are warranted to evaluate routine transplant of organs after rescue allocation.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans Michael
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hau
authors.forename: Hans-Michael
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tautenhahn
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uhlmann
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmelzle
authors.forename: Mehmet Haluk
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Morgul
authors.forename: Markus Bo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Schoenberg
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krenzien
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartels
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D051799:Delayed Graft Function / Q000209:etiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D046148:Donor Selection; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003404:Creatinine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014508:Urea; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human