Hanyang Medical Reviews  2006;26(3):54-61

Pancreas Transplantation.

Jongwon HA 1

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Pancreas transplantation; Survival; Indication; Complication

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Pancreas transplantation is the best option for the cure of insulin dependent diabetes. Simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation (SPK), pancreas transplantation alone (PTA), or pancreas transplantation after kidney transplantation (PAK) is performed according to the renal failure status. The best survival result comes from SPK. Donor selection is much more important than the type of transplantation since the purpose of transplantation is mainly to improve quality of life and poor quality pancreas may result in severe life threatening complications. In the majority of pancreas transplantations, systemic venous drainage is performed and this does not seem to increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Bladder drainage of exocrine secretion may result in several side effects and is not frequently performed in SPK recently. With the development of good immunosuppression regimen, the patient and graft survival rates have improved. Pancreas transplantation should be considered for the insulin dependent diabetes patients who meet the inclusion criteria.