Simultaneous transplantation of the living donor kidney and deceased donor pancreas and other transplant options for diabetic and uremic patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Solitary deceased donor kidney and simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplantation are the two most common transplant procedures performed for patients with diabetes and uremia, vastly outnumbering all other organ replacement options. Given the improvement in outcomes for solitary pancreas transplantation, the higher mortality for diabetic patients on the waiting list, and the growing shortage of organs (particularly kidneys) for transplantation, the use of living donors for this complex patient population should be more common.

RECENT FINDINGS: Yet, despite some clear advantages, sequential pancreas after live donor kidney transplant and especially the combined procedure, simultaneous pancreas (from a deceased donor) and living donor kidney transplantation are relatively uncommon.

SUMMARY: Possible reasons for the infrequent use of these options and methods for increasing the use of living donor kidneys for the diabetic and uremic patient are presented.