Outcome of surgical complications following simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation carries a higher risk of surgical complications than kidney transplantation alone. We aimed to establish the incidence of surgical complications after SPK transplantation and determine the effect on graft and patient survival. METHODS: Outcomes of all SPK transplants performed at our centre were compared between patients who experienced a surgical complication (SC group) and those who did not (NSC group). RESULTS: Our centre performed 193 SPK transplants in a 15-year period; 44 patients (23%) experienced a surgical complication. One-year and 5-year pancreatic graft survival was 89 and 80%, respectively; this was lower in the SC group. There was no significant difference in patient or kidney graft survival between the SC and NSC groups at 5 years (92 and 83%, respectively.) CONCLUSION: Surgical complications following SPK transplantation can cause significant morbidity and adversely affect pancreas graft survival, but do not affect long-term kidney or patient survival.