ABSTRACT
Over the past four decades, the field of pancreas transplantation has seen much evolution, both through refinement in surgical techniques and improvement in immunosuppressive strategies. Pancreas transplantation is primarily performed in uremic, type I diabetics in conjunction with a kidney transplant, and when successful, results in freedom from exogenous insulin therapy, amelioration, or even reversal, of diabetesassociated complications and improved quality of life. Pancreas transplants, contrary to other organ transplants, are not considered essential to patient survival. For each individual recipient, the potential benefit of a pancreas transplant must be carefully weighed against the risk of a major surgical operation and lifelong immunosuppression.
