A pancreas transplant is a surgical operation that involves transplanting a normal pancreas from the donor into a patient who no longer has a functioning pancreas. The pancreas is a digestive organ located behind the lower section of the stomach. Insulin, a hormone that stimulates the uptake of sugar into your cells, is one of its key activities.
Blood glucose levels can increase to harmful levels if your pancreas does not produce enough insulin, leading to type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is the most common reason for pancreatic transplants. This disorder could be cured with a pancreatic transplant. However, because the adverse effects of this operation can be severe, it is usually reserved for patients with substantial diabetic issues.
Pancreas transplants come in a variety of types, including:
Combined kidney-pancreas transplant
For persons with diabetes who have or are at danger of renal failure, surgeons frequently perform combined kidney-pancreas transplants. The purpose of this strategy is to provide you with a healthy pancreas and kidney that are less likely to cause diabetes-related kidney disease in the long term.
Pancreas transplant alone
People with diabetes who have no or little renal damage may be eligible for a pancreas transplant. It is a procedure in which a healthy pancreas is transplanted into a patient whose pancreatic is no longer working correctly.
Pancreatic islet cell transplant
Insulin-producing cells (islet cells) from a previous donor’s pancreas are transferred into a vein that leads to your liver during pancreatic islet cell transplantation. It’s possible that more than one injection of transplanted islet cells will be required.
Pancreas-after-kidney transplant
If a deceased or existing donor kidney becomes viable after a long wait for both a donor kidney and a donor pancreas, a kidney transplant may be considered first if a donor’s kidney becomes accessible.
Why It Is Done
In persons with diabetes, a pancreas transplant can recover normal insulin secretion and enhance glucose control, although it is not a routine treatment. The anti-rejection drugs required after a pancreatic transplant can have substantial negative effects. Also, people who have any of the following conditions may benefit from a pancreas transplant:
- Regular insulin reactions
- Uncontrollable type 1 diabetes
- Poor glucose level
- Type 2 diabetes with both low insulin production and insulin resistance.
