A total of 182 pancreatic transplantations were performed between 1976 and 1990. Survival of the grafts was 45% at 5 years. Major causes of graft loss have been rejection and venous thrombosis. Death occurred in 24 patients and was usually related to vascular complications. The techniques of duodenopancreatic transplantation with enteric drainage, bladder drainage and the technique of segmental duct obstructed grafts were compared. A higher rate of surgical complications was observed with enteric drainage, whereas it is unclear from the data whether segmental grafts or duodenopancreatic grafts drained into the bladder lead to different results.