Pancreas transplant

Surgery to replace a diseased pancreas with a healthy pancreas from a donor.

Pancreas transplants are not very common and may be done at the same time as a kidney transplant in diabetic patients. The operation is technically more difficult than a kidney or heart transplant. The healthy pancreas is obtained from a donor who has suffered brain-death but remains on life-support. The healthy pancreas is transported in a cooled saline solution that preserves the organ for up to 12 hours, permitting the necessary analyses to determine blood and tissue donor-recipient matching.

The diseased pancreas and the duodenum are removed through an incision in the upper abdomen. The donor pancreas and duodenum are inserted in place and attached to the patient’s blood vessels, bile ducts, and stomach.

 

Pancreas transplant may be recommended for pancreatic disease, especially insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Pancreas transplant surgery is not recommended for patients who have: heart or lung disease, or any other life-threatening diseases. Pancreas transplants give patients a chance to become independent of insulin injections. The main problem, as with other transplants, is graft rejection. Immunosuppressive drugs, which weaken the body’s ability to fight infections, must be taken indefinitely. Normal activities can resume as soon as the patient feels like it after consulting with the doctor. Having children after a transplant is possible.

The major problems with all organ transplants are: finding a donor, fighting the rejection effect and the cost. The recovery period averages 3 weeks. Move the legs often to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis. The sutures or clips are removed about one week after surgery. Resume normal activity as soon as possible after consulting with the physician. A diet will be prescribed.