The utility of retroperitoneal kidney placement in simultaneous kidney pancreas transplantation

Simultaneous kidney-pancreas (SPK) transplantation has become an accepted therapeutic modality for patients with Type I diabetes mellitus-mediated end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the intraperitoneal placement of the renal allograft may pose technical problems when attempting percutaneous biopsy or Doppler ultrasound examination. Recently, the Stanford University Transplant Center adopted the technique of retroperitoneal placement of the renal allograft with intraperitoneal placement of the pancreas allograft (RETRO). From August 1993 to August 1994, a total of 12 patients underwent SPK with this new technique. Twelve patients who had received SPK with the standard technique served as historical controls (INTRA). Demographic data, follow-up, operative time, creatinine and amylase on discharge, length of stay, intraoperative fluid requirements, rejection episodes, thrombotic complications, infections, and number of open and closed renal biopsies were compared between the two groups. Average length of follow-up was greater in the INTRA group (29.3 +/- 1.7 vs. 15.9 +/- 1.1 months). In addition, the RETRO group had significantly fewer open renal biopsies (1/15) in comparison to the INTRA group (7/12) (p < 0.001). The two groups otherwise did not differ in any of the parameters studied. We conclude that retroperitoneal kidney and intraperitoneal pancreas allograft placement is associated with a significantly decreased requirement for open renal biopsy with its associated operating room and anesthetic costs. In addition, the option of transcystoscopic or percutaneous needle biopsy of the pancreas allograft is preserved. This technique should be considered as an alternative to intraperitoneal placement of both the pancreas and renal allografts.