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The transplantation of the pancreas replaces endocrine function of the pancreas, establish normoglycemia, prevents the progression of chronic diabetic complications and prolongs patients life. The most common indication for transplantation is type 1 diabetes with renal failure, in which the transplantation of both organs is performed simultaneously (around 72% of all transplants) or transplantation of the pancreas in patient that already had a kidney transplant. In recent years pancreas is transplanted also in selected patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (about 7% of the transplants). Pancreas only transplant performed before renal failure is due to narrow indications very rare procedure. Possible complications of transplantation are pancreatic vein or artery thrombosis, intra-abdominal infections, pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocyst or fistula resulting in the 25-50% of re-laparatomy. With modern immunosuppression, the survival of pancreas transplant markedly improved; 5 year survival in simultaneous kidney and pancreas is around 70%. Even taking into account the possible complications, most authors agree that the simultaneous transplantation of the pancreas and kidney in addition to prolonging life expectancy also significantly improves the quality of patients life.

Background. The paper deals with the tertiary level of care provided to patients at the Departments of Cardiology, Haematology, Nephrology, Gastroenterology and Abdominal Surgery of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana. The scope of these activities are described and the main problems outlined. Problems noted were mainly those connected with long waiting periods and appropriateness of referral for diagnostic evaluation and treatment. Indications for transplantation of solid organs and haematopoietic stam ceels were presented. In addition, discrepancy between the number of patients waiting for a transplant procedure and the number of organ donors was discussed. Data on patients that we wish to obtain from primary and secondary care physicians is listed including information that must be provided to the referring doctor.