Pancreatic autotransplantation following resection

Area of Science:

• Surgical innovation in endocrinology and transplant surgery.
• Investigating pancreatic tissue viability and function post-transplantation.

Background:

• Recurrent pancreatitis poses significant challenges, often necessitating surgical intervention.
• Near-total pancreatectomy can lead to endocrine insufficiency and diabetes mellitus.

Observation:

• A patient with recurrent pancreatitis underwent a near-total pancreatectomy with auto-transplantation of the pancreatic tail.
• Vascular anastomoses were performed between the splenic and femoral vessels, with the graft placed in the thigh.

Findings:

• Post-operative blood samples revealed elevated insulin levels on the side of the grafted pancreatic tail.
• The patient remained symptom-free and did not develop diabetes two years after the procedure.

Implications:

• Pancreatic tail auto-transplantation is a viable option for preserving endocrine function after pancreatectomy.
• This technique offers a potential solution to prevent diabetes in patients undergoing extensive pancreatic surgery.