[Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation]

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation Surgery
• Immunology

Background:

• Pancreas transplantation is a critical intervention for managing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in diabetic patients.
• Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) has evolved significantly in recent decades.
• Optimizing patient selection and surgical techniques is crucial for successful outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive State of the Art review on pancreas transplantation.
• To analyze indications, surgical techniques, immunosuppressive strategies, and outcomes of SPKT.
• To synthesize current knowledge on the efficacy and long-term benefits of pancreas transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of Medline and Embase databases.
• Keywords included: pancreas transplantation, kidney transplantation, SPKT, and immunosuppression.
• Analysis of prospective/retrospective studies, reviews, and meta-analyses published within the last 20 years.

Main Results:

• Significant advancements in optimizing indications, surgical procedures, and immunosuppression protocols.
• Detailed discussion of donor organ procurement, preparation, and transplantation techniques.
• Report of current outcomes and results of pancreas transplantation, highlighting improvements.

Conclusions:

• Pancreas transplantation is the optimal treatment for ESRD in diabetic patients under 55, despite associated morbidity.
• Long-term outcomes and quality of life are significantly improved post-transplantation.
• Continued progress in surgical and immunosuppressive strategies enhances patient benefits.