Successful reuse of portal-enteric technique in pancreas retransplantation

Background. The portal venous and enteric drainage (P-E) technique was developed to avoid systemic hyperinsulinemia and bladder related complications. Pancreas retransplantation (Re-Tx) is an important option for patients who have lost their primary grafts. It is unknown whether the P-E technique can be repeated safely in patients who have lost their first pancreas transplant. Methods. Five patients who lost their pancreas graft after simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation with P-E drainage underwent pancreas Re-Tx, again using the P-E technique. Results. P-E Re-Tx was successful in all 5 patients without any technical difficulties or complications. Conclusion. The P-E technique can be reused with excellent results in pancreas Re-Tx.