Yes, the pancreas can be transplanted. A pancreas transplant is a surgical procedure where a healthy pancreas from a deceased donor is implanted into a person with diabetes, typically type 1 diabetes, whose own pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin.
What Happens During a Pancreas Transplant?
During a pancreas transplant:
- The diseased pancreas is usually not removed. It remains in your body.
- The new, healthy pancreas is surgically placed in your abdomen.
- The surgeon connects the donor pancreas to your blood vessels, allowing it to receive the blood supply it needs to function.
- The donor pancreas is also connected to your digestive system, usually the small intestine, so its digestive enzymes can drain properly.
Why Get a Pancreas Transplant?
The primary goal of a pancreas transplant is to restore normal insulin production and eliminate the need for insulin injections. A successful transplant can:
- Improve blood sugar control.
- Reduce or eliminate complications associated with diabetes, such as kidney damage, nerve damage, and eye damage.
- Improve quality of life by freeing you from the burden of daily insulin injections.
Who is a Candidate for a Pancreas Transplant?
Ideal candidates for a pancreas transplant are individuals with:
- Type 1 diabetes.
- Severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) unawareness.
- Kidney damage or failure (in which case a combined kidney-pancreas transplant may be considered).
- Significant diabetes-related complications.
What are the Risks?
As with any major surgery, pancreas transplants carry risks, including:
- Rejection of the donor pancreas by the recipient's body.
- Infection.
- Bleeding.
- Blood clots.
- Pancreatitis.
Immunosuppressant medications are required after a transplant to prevent rejection, and these medications can have side effects.
Types of Pancreas Transplants
There are different types of pancreas transplants:
- Pancreas Transplant Alone (PTA): This is performed on individuals with type 1 diabetes and well-functioning kidneys.
- Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplant (SPK): This is performed on individuals with both type 1 diabetes and kidney failure.
- Pancreas-After-Kidney Transplant (PAK): This is performed on individuals who have already received a kidney transplant but still require a pancreas transplant for diabetes management.
