Diagnosis, management, and outcome of late duodenal complications in portal-enteric pancreas transplantation: case reports

Abstract

Background: Enteric drainage (ED) of pancreas allografts is an alternative to the bladder drainage (BD) technique and eliminates unique metabolic complications seen in the BD pancreas transplant recipients. Little longterm data has been reported in ED pancreas transplants.

Study design: Of 53 patients who underwent pancreas transplantations performed with ED drainage of the exocrine secretion to a Roux-en-Y limb, who had more than 6 months graft function, four patients were identified with late duodenal segment complications (more than 6 months after transplantation) and are presented as case reports.

Results: The duodenal segment complications occurred between 8 and 48 months after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Three patients were diagnosed with leakage from the duodenal segment. All were managed operatively. The fourth patient developed a distal stricture of the transplant duodenum occluding the anastomosis between the duodenum and the Roux-en-Y limb and also had a pancreatic pseudocyst. Drainage via a cyst-jejunostomy resulted in graft salvage. The mean followup after operative management of the duodenal-related complications was 15 months (range, 3-24 months). The patient, pancreas and kidney graft survival are 100%.

Conclusions: Late duodenal complications occurred in 8% of pancreas transplant recipients with ED. Operative intervention in all four patients resulted in excellent graft and patient outcome and is recommended for these complications.