A comparison between outcomes of simultaneous pancreas/ kidney transplantation performed on type 1 and type 2 diabetics

Background: The performance of simultaneous pancreas/kidney (SPK) transplantation is an acceptable treatment modality in both type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Previous investigations have not compared outcomes of SPK transplants in these two patient groups. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was performed to identify SPK transplants in types 1 and 2 diabetics between 1995 and 2018. Baseline information and outcomes were compared. Results: During the study period, 9544 and 1036 patients underwent SPK transplantation for type 1 and 2 DM. These patients had a mean age of 41.0±8.7 and 47.0±8.3, and a mean duration of disease of 14.1±7.9 and 25.3±12.4 years, respectively (p\u3c0.001). The mean length of hospital stay was similar between the groups (11.3±14.5 vs. 11.1±13.2 days, p=0.96). Dialysis during the first postoperative week was required in slightly more of the type 1 diabetics (10.9% vs. 9.5%, p=0.03). Postoperative surgical-site infection occurred in 3.2% and 2.7% (p=0.36), anastomotic leak in 1.7% and 1.6% (p=0.94), pancreatitis in 2.3% and 4.2% (p=0.0002), and other complications in 3.2% and 2.7% (p=0.30) of type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, respectively. Conclusion: SPK transplantation seems to have generally similar short-term outcomes in patients with type 1 and 2 DM