Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation at the University of Wisconsin

After a decade of rapid development, SPK transplantation has become routine at our center. There are several developments responsible for the current high level of success: UW preservation solution, improved surgical technique, advances in immunosuppression, and expeditious diagnosis and treatment of complications. The critical modifications in surgical technique have included the avoidance of systemic heparinization, complete mobilization of the iliac vein for a tension-free anastomosis between an unmodified donor portal vein and the recipient iliac vein, oversewing of the revised duodenal staple lines and meticulous hemostasis. The most important recent improvement in immunosuppression is the use of mycophenolate mofetil, which has dramatically reduced rejection. Finally, PDC leaks, the principal and potentially most devastating complication of SPK transplantation, are rapidly diagnosed and treated expeditiously.