Preservation of the donor pancreas for whole pancreas and islet transplantation

Abstract

Whole pancreas and islet cell transplantation are both reliant upon the procurement and preservation of a high quality donor pancreas for a successful outcome. In the climate of a reducing donor pool it is imperative that donor optimization, meticulous surgical retrieval and evidence based methods of preservation are practiced to ensure optimal graft quality. Moreover expanded criteria donors and novel methods of pancreas preservation have the potential to expand the number of usable grafts and increase the availability of these transplant modalities to suitable patients with diabetes. This article provides a review of the current literature surrounding donor management, surgical technique and the various technologies of organ preservation applicable to the donor pancreas.