Current state of transplantation of the pancreas

Studies of pancreatic transplantation have been made using the pancreatic tail as an autotransplant model. The endocrine function of the pancreas has been shown to be relatively resistant to warm ischaemic injury. Autotransplantation of the pancreatic tail with a double arterial anastomosis technique can be achieved with 100% immediate success, the graft maintaining satisfactory glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. No important changes in glucose homoeostasis have been shown to result from diversion of pancreatic insulin secretion from portal to systemic veins.