Technique of pancreas revascularization after combined liver and pancreas harvesting in the same cadaveric donor

Abstract

Combined liver and pancreas harvesting in the same donor is nowadays a routine procedure in our institution. In terms of sharing of the vascular pedicule the priority is given in the majority of cases to the liver graft. Thus vascular reconstruction of the pancreatic graft is often required before transplantation. From February 1987 to June 1990 we transplanted 62 pancreases coming from a donor where also a liver graft had been harvested; 46 were segmental grafts prepared by duct injection with neoprene, 14 were pancreatico-duodenal grafts with bladder diversion of the exocrine secretion, and 2 were whole pancreas scheduled for bladder diversion and secondarily reconverted to duct injection (1 whole and 1 segmental graft) for poor duodenal blood supply. Among the 47 segmental grafts (46 + 1 reconverted from whole to segmental), in only 10 cases was the celiac axis with an aortic patch possible; conversely in 37 cases the splenic artery had been divided at its origin during the harvesting; bench surgery for vascular reconstruction was realized in 33 cases. Among the 14 pancreatico-duodenal grafts with bladder diversion and the whole pancreas with duct obstruction, in 5 cases the celiac axis and the superior mesenteric artery were harvested on the same aortic patch; in 10 cases the splenic artery was divided at its origin during the harvesting, requiring bench surgery for reconstruction.