The Stockholm experience with pancreatic transplantation using enteric exocrine diversion

Between April 1974 and June 1990, 128 pancreatic transplantations were performed. Of these 117 were with pancreatico-enterostomy. In four consecutive series of combined transplantations in uraemic diabetic patients the 1-year graft survival rate have successively improved (27%, 65%, 68% and 73%). In three similar series of single pancreatic transplantations the results also improved but still remained inferior (0%, 33% and 33%). In a series of combined transplantations performed in preuraemic diabetic patients the 1-year actuarial graft survival rate was only 25%. The results with pancreatic transplantation with pancreatico-enterostomy are now satisfactory. However, immunological loss graft function still constitute a major problem in the non- or pre-uraemic recipients. The metabolic control in patients with functioning grafts is normal or near-normal in the majority of patients followed for at least 1 year.