Drainage of the exocrine pancreas in clinical transplantation: comparison of bladder versus enteric drainage in a consecutive series.

The purpose of this study was to define the incidence of urologic and metabolic complications after simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplantation (SKPT) with bladder drainage (BD). Review of 55 SKPT with BD performed between 1989 and 1995 demonstrated patient, kidney, and pancreas survival rates of 95%, 89%, and 78%, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 41 months (range 12-78 months). Over this follow-up period 78% of these patients experienced a urinary tract infection, 27% had hematuria, and 38% had at least one hospital admission for dehydration. Recent experience with primary enteric drainage of the exocrine secretions of the transplanted pancreas (n = 11) has demonstrated the total absence of these complications (follow-up range 2-12 months). These results suggest the value of continuous re-evaluation of surgical techniques as the care of transplant patients evolve.