UROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF PANCREATIC TRANSPLANTATION

Purpose: Pancreas transplantation is increasingly being used in the tr eatment of type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Because bladder drainage of the exocrine pancreatic secretion is the procedure of cho ice, urological complications are frequent. As the number of these pro cedures increases the urologist will have an extended role in the mana gement of the postoperative complications, the majority of which are u rological. Materials and Methods: The literature from 1985 on the comp lications related to pancreas transplants was reviewed. Results: Appro ximately 50 to 60% of bladder drained pancreas transplant recipients w ill have a urological complication postoperatively. Conclusions: The i ncreasing application of bladder drained pancreas transplantation in t he treatment of type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus necessitate s that the clinical urologist is familiar with the management of compl ications related to this procedure.