Background Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) is the best treatment option for diabetic patients with advanced chronic renal failure. The current study aimed to analyze the surgical indications, treatments and prognosis of SPKT.Methods We retrospectively analyzed 40 cases of SPKT performed between December 1999 and January 2010 in our center, including the survival rate, complications and the reasons of reoperation.Results Of all the 40 SPKT cases, the one-year survival rates of the recipients, kidney and pancreas transplant graft were 97.6%, 97.6% and 92.7%, while 97.6%, 91.1%, 92.7% at 3 years and 83.6%, 78.0%, 79.4% at 5 years, respectively.After SPKT, 10 patients need reoperation because of surgical complications (14 operations). The reoperation rate was 25%, including 2 patients (4 operations) with hematuria, 4 patients with abdominal hemorrhage, 2 patients (3 operations)with abdominal infection, 1 patient with pancreatic venous thrombosis, 1 patient with anastomotic leakage, and 1 patient with fistula.Conclusion Although SPKT provides a successful and effective treatment for diabetics with end-stage renal disease,how to reduce the complications of this treatment still need further effort.