Pancreas transplantation is a procedure in which a healthy pancreas is implanted from a donor into a person with abnormal pancreatic function (usually caused by severe diabetes).
Severe type 1 diabetes is often combined with chronic renal failure, so those who need a pancreas transplant may also need a kidney transplant. There are 3 types of pancreas transplantation procedures, including:
- Combined kidney-pancreas transplantation, in which the pancreas and kidney are transplanted during the same procedure.
- “Kidney followed by pancreas” transplantation, in which the pancreas is transplanted after a period of time after the kidney is transplanted.
- Pancreas transplant alone, a procedure in which only the pancreas is transplanted, which is done for people with normal kidney function.
Who is a candidate for pancreas transplantation?
Patients need to be evaluated by a team of specially trained staff prior to transplantation to determine their suitability for pancreas transplantation. Typically, only patients with severe diabetes, usually type 1 or juvenile diabetes, need the procedure.
If a patient is determined to be a suitable candidate for pancreas transplantation, the physician will place him or her on a waiting list. The evaluation team considers several factors when deciding whether a patient should be placed on the waiting list, including general health status and suitability for major surgery. The following people are not suitable for the procedure because they have certain medical conditions:
- Cancer that cannot be cured.
- Cancer that cannot be cured.
- Infections that cannot be treated or cured radically, such as tuberculosis.
- Severe heart, lung, or liver disease, or complications from diabetes can lead to a significantly increased risk of surgery.
What does pancreas transplantation involve?
During pancreas transplantation, the donor pancreas is transplanted into the recipient and its failing pancreas is removed. The pancreas must be transplanted into the recipient within a few hours of removal from the donor. A team of surgeons and anesthesiologists performs the procedure and removes the pancreas from the donor. Other surgical teams may also be needed to perform other organ transplants (such as kidneys).
Recovery after pancreas transplantation
Pancreatic transplantation must be followed by anti-immune rejection medications prescribed by the surgeon to prevent the recipient’s immune system from rejecting the donor organ. Patients who are being considered for transplantation must be willing to take anti-rejection medications for the rest of their lives. Patients who are candidates for transplantation must also be followed up for life.