Survival After Simultaneous Pancreas‐Kidney Transplantation in Type 1 Diabetes: The Critical Role of Early Pancreas Allograft Function

Surgical complications and technical failure of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: A 22-year experience from a single center

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) is the best treatment for selected individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease. Despite advances in surgical techniques, donor and recipient selection, and immunosuppressive therapies, SPKT remains a complex procedure with associated surgical complications and adverse consequences. We conducted a retrospective study that included 263 SPKT procedures performed between May 2000, and December 2022. A total of 65 patients (25%) required at least one relaparotomy, resulting in an all-cause relaparotomy rate of 2.04 events per 100 in-hospital days. Lower donor body mass index was identified as an independent factor associated with reoperation (OR .815; 95% CI:  .725-.917, p = .001). Technical failure (TF) occurred in 9.9% of cases, primarily attributed to pancreas graft thrombosis, intra-abdominal infections, bleeding, and anastomotic leaks. Independent predictors of TF at 90 days included donor age above 36 years (HR 2.513; 95% CI 1.162-5.434), previous peritoneal dialysis (HR 2.503; 95% CI 1.149-5.451), and specific pancreas graft reinterventions. The findings highlight the importance of carefully considering donor and recipient factors in SPKT. The incidence of TF in our study population aligns with the recent series. Continuous efforts should focus on identifying and mitigating potential risk factors to enhance SPKT outcomes, thereby reducing post-transplant complications.

Effects of simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation in Japanese individuals with type 1 diabetes and end-stage kidney disease

This single-center observational cohort study aimed to assess the potential benefits of simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) in terms of mortality and kidney graft outcomes in Japanese individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We first compared all-cause mortality rates between 78 SPK recipients and 108 non-transplanted individuals with T1D and ESKD. To mitigate the bias stemming from immortal time before receiving SPK, we utilized Cox regression models treating SPK as a time-dependent covariate. Next, we compared all-cause mortality rates and kidney graft loss rates between 65 SPK recipients and 58 kidney transplantation alone (KTA) recipients. Multivariate Cox hazard models and Fine and Gray competing-risk models were employed. SPK recipients experienced significantly lower all-cause mortality rates than non-transplanted individuals, even after accounting for immortal time bias (p = 0.015 by log-rank test, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.334, p = 0.025). When comparing SPK and KTA recipients, no statistically significant difference was observed in mortality rates (HR = 0.627, p = 0.588 by Cox model; HR = 0.385, p = 0.412 by Fine and Gray model) or kidney graft loss rates (HR = 0.612, p = 0.436 by Cox model; HR = 0.639, p = 0.376 by Fine and Gray model). Dysglycemia-associated mortality were observed in non-transplanted individuals and KTA recipients, but not in SPK recipients. These findings highlight the potential life-saving impact of SPK compared with intensive insulin therapy and dialysis. Additionally, this study suggests that both SPK and KTA may offer comparable outcomes. These findings have significant implications for clinical decision-making in the context of organ transplantation for individuals with T1D and ESKD.

Whole-Organ Pancreas and Islets Transplantations in UK: An Overview and Future Directions

Whole-organ pancreas and islets transplantations are two therapeutic options to treat type 1 diabetic patients resistant to optimised medical treatment in whom severe complications develop. Selection of the best option for β-cell replacement depends on several factors such as kidney function, patient comorbidities, and treatment goals. For a patient with end-stage kidney disease, the treatment of choice is often a simultaneous transplant of the pancreas and kidney (SPK). However, it remains a major surgical procedure in patients with multiple comorbidities and therefore it is important to select those who will benefit from it. Additionally, in view of the organ shortage, new strategies to improve outcomes and reduce immune reactions have been developed, including dynamic organ perfusion technologies, pancreas bioengineering, and stem cell therapies. The purpose of this article is to review the indications, surgical techniques, outcomes, and future directions of whole-organ pancreas and islets transplantations.