Pancreas Transplant Outcomes for United States and Non United States Cases as Reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing and the International Pancreas Transplant Registry as of December 2011.

Gruessner AC, Gruessner RW.

Clinical Transplants 2012, Chapter 3

Abstract

During the last decade, the number of pancreas transplants in the United States (U.S.) has declined by almost 20%, while the number of pancreas transplants performed outside of the U.S. increased. The decline in U.S. numbers is mostly due to the decline in primary pancreas after kidney transplants (PAK). The number of transplants in this category dropped by 50%. The number of simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplants (SPK) only declined slightly. In most cases, pancreas transplants worldwide were performed with a simultaneous kidney transplant (over 90%), which now shows excellent results. In the time period between 2007 and 2011, compared to an earlier era (2002-2006), for transplants in the United States, patient survival at 3 years increased to 93.2%, pancreas graft function to 80%, and kidney function to 87.8%. A significant change could be found in PAK. Three year patient survival increased to 93.6%, and pancreas graft function to 70.5%. With the decline in the number of transplants, a change in donor factors was observed. Especially in solitary transplants, the donors were often younger trauma victims and the pancreas preservation time decreased. Overall, the number of younger recipients decreased.