ABSTRACT
Current World Health Organization estimates are that about 9% of the global population have diabetes. In certain diabetic patients without renal insufficiency, pancreas transplantation alone can be performed to avert life-threatening complications of hypoglycaemia and to prevent the progression of diabetic complications. Transplantation of the islets of Langerhans is an alternative to pancreas transplant alone for patients with hypoglycaemic unawareness. The indications for pancreas transplant can be split into those for patients with concomitant renal failure and those without. Once the indication for pancreas transplantation is satisfied the patient needs a comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular and surgical fitness. Pancreas organ retrieval is standardised in the UK and is carried out by dedicated abdominal organ retrieval teams. Static cold storage has remained the gold standard preservation method for the pancreas graft since the first transplantation was performed in 1966.
