Successful outcome of segmental human pancreatic transplantation with enteric exocrine diversion after modifications in technique.

Segmental pancreatic transplantation is now the most widely favoured form of pancreatic transplantation, but the major difficulty with this procedure is the handling of the exocrine secretion. The use of a pancreaticoenteric anastomosis for exocrine diversion has been re-evaluated and several ancillary measures to reduce the risk of fistula and bacterial contamination have been applied. In three consecutive patients there have been no complications related to the exocrine pancreas. The pancreatic and renal grafts of these patients are functioning well 7, 3, and 2 months, respectively, after transplantation.