Regional extra-corporeal circulation to protect transplanted kidney and pancreas from ischemia during vascular reconstruction.

The development of severe aorto-ilio-femoral atherosclerotic disease in a patient with a previous double transplantation, kidney and pancreas, is a major surgical challenge. The transplanted organs have to be protected from extensive ischemia during the vascular reconstructive procedure and achieve optimal revascularization. The surgical management of a complex case where regional extra-corporeal circulation was used to protect transplanted pancreas and kidney during aorto-bifemoral vascular grafting in a 39 yr old diabetic patient is described. Regional femoro-femoral extra-corporeal circulation with an oxygenator is a safe technique that allows time for the proximal revascularization, minimizes the warm organ ischemia time and results in preservation of organ function.