Pancreas transplant surgery is a surgical treatment for people with
type 1 diabetes. The person's pancreas is not removed.
The transplanted pancreas is placed in the front part of the abdomen.
Insulin from the transplanted pancreas is released
into the bloodstream through the lower abdominal blood vessels (veins).
When the surgery is successful, the person may no longer have
symptoms of diabetes or need to treat diabetes. But the person may still develop
complications from diabetes. If the person already has complications, they may
continue to get worse as time goes on.1
This surgery is used mainly for people who have had or plan to have a
kidney transplant. The pancreas transplant can be done at the same time as or
after the kidney transplant.
A person who wants to have only a pancreas transplant must:1
- Have a history of severe metabolic problems from
diabetes (such as
diabetic ketoacidosis).
- Have had major
problems with insulin therapy.
- Have had complications despite insulin therapy.
Pancreas transplants are done only in hospitals that handle kidney
transplants and that are equipped to care for people who have kidney transplant
surgery.
People who receive a transplanted pancreas must take
immunosuppressive medication to prevent their
bodies from rejecting the new organ.
Citations
American Diabetes Association (2004). Pancreas
transplantation in type 1 diabetes. Clinical Practice Recommendations 2004.
Diabetes Care, 27(Suppl 1): S105.
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