Evaluation of glucose metabolism after distal pancreatectomy according to the donor criteria of the living donor pancreas transplantation guidelines proposed by the Japanese Pancreas and Islet Transplantation Association

Comparison of Outcomes and Survival of Two Cohorts of Patients with Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Latin American Hospital

Background

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) is a complex and demanding procedure with a considerable risk of morbidity and mortality. Advances in surgical techniques and organ preservation have introduced changes in care protocols. Two cohorts of patients receiving SPKT with two different protocols were compared to determine overall survival and pancreatic and renal graft failure-free survival.

Methods

This retrospective observational study was conducted in two cohorts of SPKT recipient patients that underwent surgery between 2001 and 2021. Outcomes were compared in transplant patients between 2001 and 2011 (cohort 1; initial protocol) and 2012-2021 (cohort 2; improved protocol). In addition to the temporality, the cohorts were defined by a protocolization of technical aspects and medical management in cohort 2 (improved protocol), compared to a wide variability in the procedures carried out in cohort 1 (initial protocol). Overall survival and pancreatic and renal graft failure-free survival were the primary outcomes. These outcomes were determined using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test.

Results

Fifty-five SPKT were performed during the study period: 32 in cohort 1 and 23 in cohort 2. In the survival analysis, an average of 2546 days (95% CI: 1902-3190) was found in cohort 1, while in cohort 2, it was 2540 days (95% CI: 2100-3204) (p > 0.05). Pancreatic graft failure-free survival had an average of 1705 days (95% CI: 1037-2373) in cohort 1, lower than the average in cohort 2 (2337 days; 95% CI: 1887-2788) (p = 0.016). Similarly, renal graft failure-free survival had an average of 2167 days (95% CI: 1485-2849) in cohort 1, lower than the average in cohort 2 (2583 days; 95% CI: 2159-3006) (p = 0.017).

Conclusions

This analysis indicates that pancreatic and renal graft failure-free survival associated with SPKT decreased significantly in cohort 2, with results related to improvements in the treatment protocol implemented in that cohort.

First world consensus conference on pancreas transplantation: Part I-Methods and results of literature search

Comprehensive evidence-based guidelines for the practice of pancreas transplantation are yet to be established. The First World Consensus Conference on Pancreas Transplantation was convened for this purpose. A steering committee selected the participants and defined the questions to be addressed. A group of literature reviewers identified 597 studies to be included in summaries for guidelines production. Expert groups formulated the first draft of recommendations. Two rounds of discussion and voting occurred online, using the Delphi method (agreement rate ≥85%). After each round, critical responses of experts were reviewed, and recommendations were amended accordingly. Recommendations were finalized after live discussions. Each session was preceded by expert presentations and a summary of results of systematic literature review. Up to three voting rounds were allowed for each recommendation. To avoid potential conflicts of interest, deliberations on issues regarding the impact of pancreas transplantation on the management of diabetes were conducted by an independent jury. Recommendations on technical issues were determined by experts and validated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) methodology. Each recommendation received a GRADE rating (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations).

Functional and morphological evolution of remnant pancreas after resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Functional and morphological evolution of remnant pancreas after resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma is investigated.The medical records of 45 patients who had undergone radical resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma from March 2010 to September 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 34 patients in the pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) group and 10 patients in the distal pancreatectomy (DP) group. One patient received total pancreatectomy. The endocrine function was measured using the glucose tolerance index (GTI), which was derived by dividing daily maximum serum glucose fluctuation by daily minimum glucose. Remnant pancreas volume (RPV) was estimated by considering pancreas body and tail as a column, and head as an ellipsoid, respectively. The pancreatic atrophic index (PAI) was defined as the ratio of pancreatic duct width to total pancreas width. Representative indices of each patient were compared before and after resection up to 2 years postoperatively.The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of GTI for diagnosing DM was 0.823 (95% confidence interval, 0.699-0.948, P < .001). Overall, GTI increased on postoperative day 1 (POD#1, mean ± standard deviation, 1.79 ± 1.40 vs preoperative, 1.02 ± 1.41; P = .001), and then decreased by day 7 (0.89 ± 1.16 vs POD#1, P < .001). In the PD group, the GTI on POD#14 became lower than preoperative (0.51 ± 0.38 vs 0.96 ± 1.37; P = .03). PAI in the PD group was significantly lower at 1 month postoperatively (0.22 ± 0.12 vs preoperative, 0.38 ± 0.18; P < .001). In the PD group, RPV was significantly lower at 1 month postoperatively (25.3 ± 18.3 cm vs preoperative, 32.4 ± 20.1 cm; P = .02), due to the resolution of pancreatic duct dilatation. RPV of the DP group showed no significant change. GTI was negatively related to RPV preoperatively (r = -0.317, P = .04), but this correlation disappeared postoperatively (r = -0.044, P = .62).Pancreatic endocrine functional deterioration in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients may in part be due to pancreatic duct obstruction and dilatation caused by the tumor. After resection, this proportion of endocrine insufficiency is corrected.

Laparoscopy-Assisted Spleen-Preserving Distal Pancreatectomy for Living-Donor Pancreas Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Living pancreas transplantation plays an important role in the treatment of patients with severe type 1 diabetes. However, pancreatectomy is very invasive for the donor, and less-invasive surgical procedures are needed. Although some reports have described hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery for distal pancreatectomy in living-donor operations, less-invasive laparoscopy-assisted (LA) procedures are expected to increase the donor pool. We herein report the outcomes of four cases of LA spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (Warshaw technique [WT]) in living pancreas donors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Four living pancreas donors underwent LA-WT at our institution from September 2010 to January 2013. All donors fulfilled the donor criteria established by the Japan Society for Pancreas and Islet Transplantation.

RESULTS

The median donor age was 54 years. Two donors underwent left nephrectomy in addition to LA-WT for simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. The median donor operation time for pancreatectomy was 340.5 minutes. The median pancreas warm ischemic time was 3 minutes. The median donor blood loss was 246 g. All recipients immediately achieved insulin independence. One donor required reoperation because of obstructive ileus resulting from a port-site hernia. Another donor developed a pancreatic fistula (International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula grade B), which was controlled with conservative management. After a maximum follow-up of 73 months, no clinically relevant adverse events had occurred. These results were comparable with those of previous studies concerning living-donor pancreas transplantation.

CONCLUSION

The LA-WT is a safe and acceptable operation for living-donor pancreas transplantation.