[Risk and benefits of pancreas transplantation]

Because of exocrine secretions of the gland, pancreas transplantation carries its own specific risks. Perioperative morbidity is significantly higher than after isolated kidney transplantation. The incidence, however, has been greatly reduced the last few years. The patient survival rate and graft function rate are excellent. By drainage of the graft into the small bowel and venous connection with the portal system, an almost completely physiological status can be restored. The effect on diabetic late complications vastly depends on the extent of damage induced by the long-standing diabetes mellitus. Physical capacity and quality of life increase dramatically in almost all patients after a successful pancreas transplantation. Thus, almost all patients urgently request retransplantation when the graft is lost.