Objective To preliminarily investigate the safety and efficacy of donor pancreas needle biopsy in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 7 cases undergoing donor pancreas biopsy were collected retrospectively. All cases underwent donor pancreas biopsy before or during simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Frozen section or paraffin sectioning techniques were used for tissue preparation, and hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were performed to histologically evaluate the donor pancreas. The quality of donor pancreas was comprehensively assessed by combining histological findings with the donor's clinical data. Postoperative follow-up data of 5 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients were collected to summarize the safety of donor pancreas biopsy and the prognosis of transplant recipients. Results The 7 pancreas donors were aged 28 to 62 years, with a body mass index ranging from 20.76 to 27.68 kg/m². Liver ultrasound indicated fatty liver in 3 cases, while pancreatic ultrasound did not reveal any significant abnormalities. Among them, biopsy was performed on 2 donors after completion of pancreatic procurement and processing, and the frozen section histology showed moderate acute pancreatitis changes (edema of acinar cells, necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration). Combined with a serum amylase level elevated more than 3 times the upper limit of normal value, these two donor pancreases were finally discarded. The remaining 5 cases underwent biopsy immediately after pancreatic vascular anastomosis during simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation, and histological evaluation was performed on paraffin-embedded sections. No biopsy-related complications (such as bleeding, pancreatic fistula, etc.) occurred after transplantation. One recipient died of severe infection 2 months after transplantation, while the other 4 recipients were followed up for more than 5 years, with well-functioning transplant kidneys and pancreases. Conclusions Donor pancreas biopsy is relatively safe, and the risk of biopsy-related complications after transplantation is controllable. Comprehensive assessment of donor pancreas quality by combining histological evaluation with the donor's clinical indicators is conducive to improving the accuracy of donor pancreas selection and organ utilization.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and risk factors of acute rejection(AR)of transplanted pancreas and kidney after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation(SPK)and explore the effects of AR on the survival of transplanted pancreas, kidney and recipients.Methods:From September 2016 to July 2022, the relevant clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 218 recipients undergoing SPK.According to whether or not AR occurred after SPK, they were assigned into two groups of AR(n=53)and non-AR(n=165). The relevant clinical data were compared for two groups of donors and recipients and the risk factors of AR analyzed by binary Logistic regression.Kaplan-Meier method was employed for comparing the survival rates of recipients/transplanted pancreas and kidneys in two groups.Results:A total of 53 cases(24.3%)developed ARs of transplanted pancreas(n=31, 14.2%)(5 of 2 ARs), transplanted kidney(n=15, 6.9%)(1 of 2 ARs)and transplanted pancreas & kidney AR(n=11, 5.0%)(2 of 2 ARs). Tacrolimus blood levels in AR and non-AR groups were(5.8±1.2)and(6.3±1.6)μg/L and failed to attain targets in 36(67.9%)and 78(47.3%)cases.During follow-ups, the incidence of pneumonia and urinary tract infections in AR group versus non-AR group were[43.4%(23/53)vs.27.3%(45/165)and 39.6%(21/53)vs.18.8%(31/165)]and the differences were statistically significant( P=0.028 & 0.002). The results of multifactorial regression analysis revealed that sub-optimal blood level of tacrolimus was an independent risk factor for an occurrence of AR in grafts of SPK recipients( OR=2.254, 95% CI: 1.167-4.353, P=0.016). Comparisons of 1/5-year postoperative survival rates between recipients in AR and no-AR group(98.1% vs.93.9% and 92.1% vs.92.4%)indicated that the differences were not statistically significant( P=0.233 & 0.806). Through comparing 1/5-year survival rates of transplanted pancreas in AR and non-AR groups(94.3% vs.100%, 89.4% vs.98.6%), the differences were statistically significant( P=0.003 & 0.004). And 1/5-year survival rates of transplanted kidneys in AR and non-AR groups(92.5% vs.100% and 90.2% vs.100%)were compared and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.001). Conclusions:The incidence of AR is higher in transplanted pancreas and kidney after SPK.And the incidence of pneumonia and urinary tract infection is higher in AR group than that in non-AR group.Sub-optimal blood level of tacrolimus is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of AR.The 1/5-year survival rates of transplanted pancreas and transplanted kidney are lower in AR group than those in non-AR group.It has some effect on the survival of transplanted pancreas and kidney.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of aspirin plus low molecule heparin for pancreatic thrombosis during simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK).Methods:A total of 129 patients aged 18 years or higher underwent SPK between September 2016 and March 2020.They were divided retrospectively into two groups of aspirin ( n=60) and heparin ( n=69) according to different anticoagulant regimens.The aspirin group received only aspirin 100 mg/d at Day 1 post-operation.The heparin group received subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin 2 000 AxaIU daily for 7 days and followed by aspirin and clopidogrel.Outcomes and complication rates were compared between two groups. Results:All operations were successful without any mortality.In aspirin group, there were 5 cases of pancreatic thrombosis and one patient underwent pancreatectomy.There was no pancreatic thrombosis in heparin group ( P=0.014). There were 8 cases of intestinal anastomotic bleeding in aspirin group and 19 cases in heparin group.Statistically significant inter-group difference existed ( P=0.048). However, no significant inter-group difference existed in delayed recovery or rejection. Conclusions:Heparin anticoagulation can significantly lower the incidence of pancreatic thrombosis after SPK.Despite a higher incidence of intestinal anastomotic bleeding, no serious complication occurs after conservative meaures.

Objective To preliminarily explore the clinical efficacy of ipsilateral simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) .Methods Ipsilateral SPK was performed in 40 patients from September 2016 to August 2018 .During a follow-up period of 6 to 29 months ,we summarized the efficacy and complications of the technique .Results Up to now ,38 patients achieved an exceelent clinical efficacy with no major surgical complications .However ,two patients died of severe pneumonia .The postoperative serum levels of creatinine at 3 ,6 ,12 ,24 months were 107 ,102 ,107 ,110 umol/L ;creatinine clearance rate 64 ,67 ,64 ,63 ml/min;fasting glucose 4 .6 ,5 .1 ,4 .6 ,5 .2 mmol/L ;glycated hemoglobin 4 .8％ , 5 .4％ ,4 .9％ ,5 .2％ respectively .And 1/2-year pancrea and kidney graft survival rates both were 92％ . Complications included kidney graft rejection (n= 11) ,pancreas graft rejection (n= 12) ,simultaneous renal & pancreas graft rejection (n=6) ,renal graft DGF (n=1) ,pulmonary infection (n=14) ,urinary tract infections (n=18) ,gastrointestinal bleeding (n=10) diarrhea (n=6) ,splenic venous thrombosis (n=2) ,incomplete ureteric obstruction of renal allograft (n=3) ,urine leakage (n=1) and pancreas allograft dysfunction (n= 2) .There were no severe surgical complications .After aggressive interventions ,all postoperative complications were cured and none required excision of kidney or pancreas .Conclusions Ipsilateral SPK has definite therapeutic efficacy and it is worth wider popularization .

BACKGROUNDKidney transplantation (KTx) is the primary therapy for children with renal failure. Unlike KTx in adult patients, it is commonly agreed that pediatric KTx in China is far behind that of America. There has been no systematic analysis of Chinese pediatric KTx reported. This study aimed to demonstrate the current status of pediatric KTx in China.

METHODSRegistry data of pediatric KTx (1983-2012) from Chinese Scientific Registry of Kidney Transplantation (CSRKT) were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 851 pediatric KTx from 102 transplant units. The recipients were (15.4±2.5) years of age, 93.9% of who were over 10 years old. Chronic glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis accounted for 75.6% of recognized primary diseases. Allografts were from deceased donors (72.2%) or living donation (27.7%). The patient survival for 1, 3, 5, and 10 years was 96.9%, 94.2%, 92.3%, and 92.3% and the graft survival was 94.6%, 91.4%, 86.3%, and 79.2%, respectively. The majority of post-transplant complications were acute rejection and infections. Annual transplant reached the peak in 2008 (n = 114), and decreased sharply in 2006 (n = 41) and 2010 (n = 57). The percentage of pediatric KTx in total KTx was highest in 2007 (1.95%) and decreased to trough level in 2010 (1.0%). Living donation increased by 32.5-folds from 2004 to 2008 and then decreased by 86.6% till 2010. The percentage of living donation in pediatric or total KTx dynamically changed in a similar manner, while living donation ratio in pediatric KTx was much higher.

CONCLUSIONSKidney transplant can provide long-term benefits to pediatric recipients. Rejection and infections are worthy of concern during follow-up. Pediatric kidney transplant in China is very much lagging behind that in developed countries. Living donation played an important role in its development in the past decades. New strategies for implementation are encouraged to increase the priority of uremic children in organ allocation so as to promote its progress in China.

Adolescent ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Retrospective Studies