Perioperative treatment with octreotide minimizes technical complications after enteric conversion of bladder-drained...

We review our experience with enteric conversion of previously bladder-drained pancreas transplants (PTx) using a short perioperative course of octreotide (OCT). Between July 1994 and December 2001, 45 consecutive primary bladder-drained PTx were performed. Immunosuppression consisted of a combination of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids after induction with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. A total of 16 patients underwent enteric conversion at an average of 3 months after the initial transplant. Each patient received OCT perioperatively. We report no technical complications with the exception of one superficial wound infection and good early and late PTx survival rates. Perioperative treatment with octreotide is well tolerated and may reduce technical complications while performing enteric conversion of previously bladder-drained PTx.