PANCREATIC TRANSPLANT: WHAT TO EXPECT

WHAT IS A PANCREATIC TRANSPLANT?

A pancreatic transplant is a surgery in which a healthy donor pancreas is implanted into an ill patient with a non-functioning pancreas. This is a specialized procedure and is performed by a pancreatic surgeon.

In order to keep the donor pancreas healthy, it is removed from the donor while the donor is brain dead, but is still on life support. It is then transported in a cooler to keep it safe and healthy and is transported to the facility where the patient receiving the organ is waiting.

In addition, the donor’s blood type must be compatible with the patient receiving the organ so that the body has a better chance of accepting the organ.

During a pancreatic transplant, the diseased pancreas is not removed during the operation. This is because it is still capable of making the essential digestive enzymes needed during the digestion of food. Instead, the donor pancreas is placed below the diseased pancreas and is attached to the patient’s blood vessels.

WHAT ARE THE THREE TYPES OF PANCREATIC TRANSPLANTS?

There are three types of pancreatic transplant options:

• Combined Kidney-Pancreas Transplant: As stated earlier, sometimes a kidney transplant is required for those suffering from type I diabetes as well as renal failure. Often, the pancreas and kidney(s) will come from the same donor and be transplanted at the same time.
• Pancreas-After- Kidney Transplant: This is very similar to a combined kidney-pancreas transplant, although the surgeries take place at separate times. In this case, the pancreas and kidney(s) will come from different donors. This is because donor organs have a small window of time, often a matter of hours, to get transplanted before organ death occurs.
• Pancreas Transplant Alone: Pancreas transplants that do not require kidney transplants are for those who have severe type I diabetes but are not having any type of kidney failure.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A PANCREATIC TRANSPLANT?

There is much to be gained from receiving a healthy pancreas, especially if you are suffering from extreme renal disease:

• With a healthy pancreas, you may no longer require insulin injections that result from your type I diabetes. The new pancreas will take on the role of insulin production and keep your body’s sugar balanced.
• Many of your type I diabetes symptoms may lessen or go away altogether with the presence of a healthy pancreas that is functioning as it was meant to.
• A healthy pancreas will prevent further damage to your already unhealthy kidneys or work well with the new kidney(s) you receive, should you require a kidney transplant as well.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF A PANCREAS TRANSPLANT?

Here is a look at some of the possible risks and/or complications that may result from a pancreas transplant:

• Your body may reject the new organ as a foreign object, attack it, and render it useless.
• You will have to take powerful immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of your life to help prevent your body from rejecting the new organ. These drugs can lower your immune system and trigger cancer, bacterial, and viral infections.
• Since 75% of all pancreas transplants are performed with kidney transplants, complications post-surgery are higher with higher rates of rejection of the new organs.

WHY KIMS?

No other medical centre provides as comprehensive pancreatic cancer surgery in Hyderabad, India other than KIMS. Complete diagnosis for Type 1 Diabetes surgery and pancreatic cancer are provided at our hospital. Dr. Srinivas Prabhu Chava, our gastrointestinal surgeon, provides coordinated and compassionate care in our top-rated facilities. Consultations with a full spectrum of experts, including pancreas transplant doctors in Hyderabad, are available for the benefit of our patients.