Pancreas transplantation in Ohio: a 15-year outcomes analysis

Beginning in 1984, all pancreas transplantations performed in the state of Ohio have been tracked by the Ohio Solid Organ Transplantation Consortium (OSOTC). In this study the outcomes of these transplantations were compared across 3 eras to determine whether increasing experience has been beneficial.

Between July 1984 and December 1999, 765 kidney-pancreas (KPTx) and 76 pancreas only (Ptx) transplantations were performed. Outcomes measures for these 841 pancreas transplantations were compared over 3 eras, 1984 to 1989, 1990 to 1994, and 1995 to 1999.

One-year patient survivals for KPTx patients were 87%, 92%, and 94% in the 3 eras, respectively. Graft survival at 1 year was also markedly improved between era 1 and era 3, increasing for PTx patients from 21% to 85% and for KPTx patients from 68% to 85%. Average waiting time increased from 132 to 318 days between era 1 and era 3. Conversely, average length of stay in hospital was significantly decreased from 34 to 18 days. The cost of the procedure, as measured by hospital charges, also decreased when compared in 1985 dollars as a technique to control for inflation.

These data suggest that pancreas transplantation in Ohio has become a very successful and cost-effective therapeutic intervention for patients with type I diabetes with or without concomitant end-stage renal failure.