Aims: Since donor age of 45 years or more is considered a relative contraindication for pancreas transplantation (PTx), we herein report our experience with these donors.
Methods: Pancreases from donors aged 45 years or older were used in 16 of 147 PTx procedures (11%). The final decision to accept a graft for PTx was based mainly on the quality of visceral perfusion and the gross appearance of the pancreas and the vessels. There were 9 men and 7 women, ranging in age from 45 to 55 years (average, 48.9 years) who were donors, due to cerebrovascular accidents (n = 11; 68.7%). Among the donor group, 5 patients were receiving multiple vasopressor agents (31.2%), and 2 had a history of cardiac arrest (12.5%). Pancreases were transplanted either simultaneously with a cadaveric kidney (n = 6) or as solitary grafts (n = 10).
Results: After a mean period of cold preservation of 616 minutes (range, 475 to 844 min), delayed endocrine function occurred in 1 recipient (6%), who subsequently achieved insulin independence. Two recipients died suddenly, with functioning grafts. Two further grafts were lost due to portal vein thrombosis (6%) or late arterial thrombosis (6%). Three patients required repeat surgery (18.7%). After a mean follow-up period of 26.6 months, actuarial 1-year and 5-year patient survival rates were 87.5%, with insulin independence in 81.2% and 67.7%, respectively.
Conclusions: Meticulous donor selection and short preservation times allow the safe use of pancreases procured from donors aged 45 years or older, thus expanding the donor pool for PTx procedures.