Pancreas transplant

Before referring your patient, please make sure they have:

• urea and electrolytes tests
• estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 
• calcium and phosphate tests
• liver function tests
• glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) tests
• a full blood count
• a blood group test
• a routine transplant assessment infection screen
• an MRSA screen
• urinalysis
• chest X-ray
• 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
• iliac artery and vein ultrasound 
• echocardiogram
• myocardial perfusion scan or dobutamine stress echocardiogram
• ultrasound report of native kidneys (or an old non-functioning transplant)

Please include the test results in your referral letter.

Please email us for an up-to-date copy of our recipient work-up guidance document.  

We accept patients if:

• they have insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic renal failure and are already on dialysis or will be on dialysis within 6 months
• an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 20 mL/min/1.73 m²
• they are under 65 years old (most patients are under 55 years old)
• their body mass index (BMI) is less than 32 (most patients have a BMI of less than 30)
• they have adequate cardiovascular reserve (this must be assessed by an echocardiogram and exercise tolerance test, or nuclear medicine myocardial perfusion scan or dobutamine stress echocardiogram)
• they have adequate respiratory reserve and have been assessed by lung function tests if they are symptomatic or have a history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

We accept patients if:

• they have insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes mellitus
• they have life-threatening complications such as hypoglycaemic unawareness or "brittle diabetes" with frequent or severe episodes of hypoglycaemia
• an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) more than 40 ml/min/1.73 m²
• they have had a joint assessment with the diabetes team at King's College Hospital
• their body mass index (BMI) is less than 32 (most patients have a BMI of less than 30)
• they have adequate cardiovascular reserve (this must be assessed by an echocardiogram and exercise tolerance test, or nuclear medicine myocardial perfusion scan or dobutamine stress echocardiogram)
• they have adequate respiratory reserve and have been assessed by lung function tests if they are symptomatic or have a history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

We accept patients if:

• they have of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
• they have stable function of a previous renal kidney transplant
• an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) more than 40 ml/min/1.73 m²
• their body mass index (BMI) is less than 32 (most patients have a BMI of less than 30)
• they have adequate cardiovascular reserve (this must be assessed by an echocardiogram and exercise tolerance test, or nuclear medicine myocardial perfusion scan or dobutamine stress echocardiogram)
• they have adequate respiratory reserve and have been assessed by lung function tests if they are symptomatic or have a history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease