Single-institution outcomes in the first year of pancreas transplantation from brain-dead donors

Abstract

Background: Under a revision to the law in 2010, the number of pancreas transplantations from brain-dead donors has been increasing in Japan. We started a new Pancreatic Transplant Program at Fujita Health University Hospital in September 2012.

Methods: A total of 11 cases of pancreas transplantation from brain-dead donors performed at Fujita Health University Hospital were analyzed in terms of the background characteristics of the donors and recipients and the outcomes.

Results: The mean age of the recipients was 45.2 years, and all recipients had a long-term history of diabetes (mean: 32.5 years). In the simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) cases, the patients also had a long history of hemodialysis (mean: 8.0 years). Although the average donor age was 42.5 years, 90% of the donors were marginal donors, defined according to the following factors: (1) >45 years old, (2) death from cardiovascular disease, (3) episodes of cardiac arrest, (4) use of high doses of catecholamines. The pancreatic graft survival rate was 100%, although 1 patient required a small amount of insulin to maintain euglycemia. In addition, the kidney graft survival rate was also 100% in the SPK cases.

Conclusions: The new Pancreatic Transplant Program at Fujita Health University has provided excellent outcomes for type 1 diabetic patients.