# Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplantation from Donors after Circulatory Death in Switzerland

## TL;DR

This paper reports on the first successful simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplants in Switzerland using donors after circulatory death, showing promising results with low complications and good graft function.

## Contribution

The study presents the first series of DCD SPK transplants in Switzerland, demonstrating their feasibility and success.

## Key findings

- All patients had uneventful intra- and postoperative courses with no major complications.
- Pancreas grafts achieved excellent function with 100% insulin-free survival and improved blood sugar control.
- Kidney graft function was good initially but declined over time due to infections.

## Abstract

Background: Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) remains the only curative treatment for type I diabetics with end-stage kidney disease. SPK using donors after circulatory death (DCD) is one important measure to expand the organ pool for pancreas transplantation (PT). After initial doubts due to higher complications, DCD SPK is now considered safe and equivalent to donation after brain death in terms of survival and graft function. Materials and Methods: We assessed pancreas and kidney graft function, as well as complications of the first three patients who underwent a DCD SPK in Switzerland. Two transplantations were after rapid procurement, one following normothermic regional perfusion (NRP). Results: Intra- and postoperative courses were uneventful and without major complications in all patients. In the two SPK after rapid procurement, pancreas graft function was excellent, with 100% insulin-free survival, and hemoglobin A1C dropped from 7.9 and 7.5 before SPK and to 5.1 and 4.3 after three years, respectively. Kidney graft function was excellent in the first year, followed by a gradual decline due to recurrent infections. The patient, after NRP SPK, experienced short-term delayed pancreatic graft function requiring low-dose insulin treatment for 5 days post-transplant, most likely due to increased peripheral insulin resistance in obesity. During follow-up, there was persistent euglycemia and excellent kidney function. Conclusions: We report on the first series of DCD SPK ever performed in Switzerland. Results were promising, with low complication rates and sustained graft survival. With almost half of all donors in Switzerland currently being DCD, we see great potential for the expansion of DCD PT.