[Urologic complications of pancreas-kidney simultaneous transplantation]

Pancreas Transplantation (PT) is the only available therapy today for diabetes that allows an insulin-independent euglycemic state with complete normalization of glycosilated haemoglobin levels. Survival of patient, pancreatic graft and renal graft is 93%, 86% and 90% respectively at one year and 90%, 84% and 85% at three years. The most accepted method for exocrine drainage in most centres where simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation is being performed is vesical drainage. In spite of the improvements achieved in graft and patient survival, it is evident that a most frequent use of this type of technique involves a greater number of urological complications (repeat infections, haematuria, fistulae or leakage, reflux pancreatitis, urethral stenosis and disruption, dehydration and acidosis, previous diabetic bladder) and the familiarization of the urologist with this type of disease in immunodepressed patients. This paper reviews the current situation and illustrates the general approach regimes in our Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation Unit with regard to each complication.