Retroperitoneal Pancreas Transplantation With the Use of Duodenal Drainage via “Button Technique”: First Clinical Practice (Case Report)

The persistent relative high incidence of duodenum-associated surgical complications significantly reduces pancreas grafts' (PG) and recipients' survival rates. A 31-year-old female patient underwent retroperitoneal pancreas transplantation with the use of PG exocrine drainage into the recipient's duodenum via the “button technique” approach. An uncomplicated postoperative period with satisfactory function of both transplants (pancreas and kidney) was noted. This was the 1st time ever that the transplantation was performed with the use of retroperitoneal placement of the pancreas transplant and duodenal drainage via the “button technique” approach. It is possible that the absence of the duodenal stump in the donor's transplant has a number of benefits in the postoperative period, which can be confirmed during the follow-up observations.