Successful reuse of portal-enteric technique in pancreas retransplantation

Background. The portal venous and enteric drainage (P-E) technique was deve loped to avoid systemic hyperinsulinemia and bladder related complications. Pancreas retransplantation (Re-Tx) is an important option for patients who have lost their primary grafts. It is unknown whether the P-E technique ca n he repeated safely in patients who have lost their first pancreas transpl ant. Methods. Five patients who lost their pancreas graft after simultaneous kid ney-pancreas transplantation with P-E drainage underwent pancreas Re-Tx, ag ain using the P-E technique. Results. P-E Re-Tx was successful in all 5 patients without any technical d ifficulties or complications. Conclusion. The P-E technique can be reused with excellent results in pancr eas Re-Tx.