Factors for the development of graft pancreatitis following pancreas transplantation: A systematic review

Graft pancreatitis (GP) is a complication of pancreas transplantation. Currently no standardised diagnostic criteria for this condition exists. The purpose of this review is to identify potential associated and mitigating factors for the development of GP. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were systematically searched. Studies reporting GP development after pancreas transplantation were included. Bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Cochrane Risk of Bias tools. Fifty-eight studies were included. Potential associated factors for GP included donor age, duration of cold ischemia time, recipient pre-transplant lipid levels, HTK preservation, learning phase of a transplant program, exocrine bladder drainage, implantation order during simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation, and recipient reperfusion mean arterial pressure. Potential mitigating factors include use of intraoperative sevoflurane and desflurane, donor steroid pre-treatment and recipient pre-treatment with calcium channel blockers and anti-thrombin III. This systematic review identified a range of potential associated factors and mitigating factors for graft pancreatitis. • Graft pancreatitis is a significant complication of pancreas transplant. • A range of potential associated factors for this condition have been identified. • A range of potential mitigating factors for this condition have been identified. • Further research should focus on defining graft pancreatitis and confirming results.