Anatomical basis of whole pancreas transplantation.

Combined liver and whole pancreas procurement is feasible provided that anatomical variations of the hepatic a. are kept in mind and recognised. In case of a single middle hepatic a., the pancreas can be procured with the celiac axis and the superior mesenteric a. The liver is harvested with all its artery. In case of a left hepatic a., the liver should have the celiac axis, the left and the middle hepatic a. The pancreas is harvested with the superior mesenteric a. on which the splenic a. will be implanted, provided that the dorsal pancreatic a. is really coming from the splenic a. In case of a right hepatic a., the liver is procured with the middle hepatic a., the right hepatic a. and the superior mesenteric a. The pancreas will have the celiac axis, the common hepatic a. with the gastroduodenal branch and the splenic a.