Maintaining Optimal Pancreas Transplantation Outcomes in Obese Recipients.

Abstract

Background Pancreas transplant recipient obesity has been associated with increased risk of peri-operative complications, graft failure and death. Cardiovascular co-morbidity is the key risk for the obese candidate. Methods We compared the outcomes of pancreas transplant recipients with body mass index (BMI) >30kg/m2 (n=60) to those with BMI <30kg/m2 (n=308) between 1996 and 2013. All patients were assessed by a cardiologist prior to, and annually after transplantation. There was a low threshold for cardiovascular intervention both pre- and post-operatively. Results There were no differences in the pre-transplant recipient or donor characteristics apart from BMI. There was an increased incidence of surgical site infections in the BMI>30 group compared to the BMI<30 group (12% vs 3.2% respectively; p=0.03). Despite this, the median length of hospital stay was shorter in the BMI>30 group (9 days vs. 10 days in the BMI<30 group; p=0.02). There were no other significant differences in the complications in the first three post-operative months. The BMI>30 group were more likely to suffer a rejection episode (43% vs 29%; p=0.03) compared to the BMI<30 group, and the median time to first rejection was also shorter (1 vs. 6 months; p=0.04) in the BMI>30 group. There was no difference in the rate of patient survival, pancreas or kidney graft survival or difference in graft function between the two groups. Conclusion Although there was an increased risk of rejection and wound infection in the obese group, there was no difference in the rate of patient or graft survival. This finding, when compared with previous reports, may be related to stringent recipient selection and post-transplant care particularly with respect to cardiovascular disease.