[Historical course of surgical techniques in pancreas transplantation]

Since the original description of the pancreas transplant technique in animals, initially as a pedicle transplant in 1892, free graft in 1913, and then as a vascularized organ in 1927, there have been several changes in the handling of the exocrine secretions, as well as the vascular anastomoses, and the posttransplant function in relation to the immunosuppressive therapy. The surgical technical changes have included the ligature of the duct, the free drainage to the abdominal cavity, the pancreas transplant with a duodenal segment, the chemical occlusion of the duct, and its drainage to the intestine or to the bladder with a duodenal segment. This last technique remains as the standard technique currently used for pancreas transplantation, along with the combined transplant of the kidney. This work reviews the historical aspects, the evolution of the experimental and clinical surgical techniques, and the current results associated with the surgical management of pancreas transplantation.