Renal transplants. Kidney and pancreatic transplantation

1. Specific criteria for pancreas donation are few. A donor history of diabetes mellitus is an absolute contraindication, as well as any direct trauma to the pancreas with severe pancreatitis. Extracranial malignancy and active infection rule out retrieval of both pancreas and kidneys. 2. A combined pancreas/kidney transplant requires two completely separate instrument setups. The instruments used to implant the pancreas are considered contaminated by the segment of duodenum containing the pancreatic duct. 3. In addition to those questions routinely asked of a patient on admission to the operating room, the perioperative nurse needs to know when the patient last underwent dialysis and when the last dose of insulin was given. Lab work should be quickly reviewed with special notice given to the hematocrit, hemoglobulin, and glucose levels.