Ipsilateral placement of simultaneous pancreas and kidney allografts

The current standard technique for simultaneous kidney pancreas transplantation usually involves transplanting the pancreas to the right and the kidney to the left iliac system. Here we describe a previously unreported technique where both organs are transplanted to the right iliac system through a single midline incision. Forty-nine patients underwent simultaneous ipsilateral pancreas and kidney transplantation. All pancreas grafts were drained enterically. Overall patient, pancreas, and kidney survival were 96% (47/49), 92% (45/49), and 94% (46/49) respectively. The 45 patients with functioning grafts are insulin free and off of dialysis. Mean serum creatinine at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months was 1.7+/-1.3, 1.2+/-0.3, 1.3+/-0.3, and 1.3+/-0.4 mg/dL, respectively. The placement of the pancreas and kidney transplants on the same side is safe and does not compromise patient or graft survival. This approach preserves the left iliac system for future retransplantation if necessary.