Pancreas Transplant Program


Life-Changing Procedure 

As home to one of the nation’s top kidney transplant programs, UMC is now offering pancreas transplants. Patients living with severe complications from diabetes can find hope in this life-changing procedure. A pancreas transplant is often done alongside or after a kidney transplant in patients suffering from kidney damage due to their diabetes.  


Considering a Pancreas Transplant

A pancreas transplant is used to treat patients with diabetes suffering from major complications, including kidney failure. Most candidates for this surgery suffer from Type 1 diabetes, but some people with Type 2 can be eligible after meeting certain criteria. The pancreas is a vital organ that is part of both digestive system and the endocrine system. It produces enzymes that help you to digest your food. It also produces insulin, among many other hormones, which is essential to control your blood glucose levels.  

You might need a pancreas transplant if you:  

  • Have insulin-treated diabetes and kidney failure or other serious complications  

  • Experience frequent incidents of hypoglycemia or low blood sugars that require the help of others or hospitalization 

  • Have insulin-treated diabetes and have recently had a kidney transplant

A majority of pancreas transplants are performed in conjunction with a kidney transplant or shortly after a kidney transplant is performed. Pancreas transplants can also be performed alone for patients without kidney issues.  


Our team will conduct a detailed pre-transplant evaluation to determine if transplant is the best option for you. We will help you determine if you are healthy enough for a transplant and which type of transplant best fits your needs. Patients who are NOT good candidates for a pancreas transplant include those who have: 

  • Malignancy other than skin cell carcinomas 

  • Active infections 

  • HIV infection 

  • Active immunological diseases 

  • Advanced cardiac disease 

  • Advanced primary pulmonary or thoracic disease 

  • Obesity 

  • Malnutrition 

  • Untreated psychological disorder 

  • Evidence of poor compliance 

  • Absence of appropriate insurance or funding 

  • Untreated or ongoing drug, alcohol or tobacco abuse 

  • Lack of caregiver support 

It is important to have sufficient insurance for the necessary coverage of transplant evaluations, testing, surgery, postoperative medications and treatments. Patients should also have sufficient income to cover basic living expenses, medical expenses, and your post-transplant care. Medicare or a single private insurance alone may not be enough to cover all aspects of a transplant procedure. Secondary or supplemental insurance may be required. Prescription drug coverage is also incredibly important. 

 

Pancreas Transplant Timeline

 

Evaluation 

Our team at the UMC Center for Transplantation will work closely alongside you to determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements for a pancreas transplant. Our team assesses whether you are healthy enough to have surgery and tolerate lifelong post-transplant medications. We will also determine if you have any medical conditions that would hinder the success of your transplant. In addition, we will ensure that you are willing and able to take medications as directed and follow the recommendations of your transplant team. 

 

Finding a Donor 

Your health care team will consider several factors, such as blood and tissue types, when evaluating whether a pancreas will be a good match for you. Your name will be placed on a waiting list for a donor pancreas.

If your doctor suggests that you also need a kidney transplant, you can learn more about that process here. 


Staying Healthy 

Whether you are waiting for a donated pancreas, kidney, or your transplant surgery is already scheduled, you should work to stay healthy. Being healthy can make it more likely that you will be ready for the transplant surgery when the time comes. It may also help speed your recovery from surgery. Please follow the recommendations below: 

  1. Take your medications as prescribed. 

  1. Follow the diet and exercise guidelines recommended by your transplant team. 

  1. Keep all appointments with your health care team. 

  1. Stay involved in healthy activities, including relaxing and spending time with family and friends. 

  1. Stay in touch with your transplant team and let them know of any significant changes in your health. 

 

Remain Prepared for Your Surgery 

If you are waiting for a donated pancreas and/or kidney, make sure the transplant team knows how to reach you at all times. Keep your packed hospital bag handy, and make arrangements for transportation to the transplant center in advance. 

Life on the Waitlist:

In order to stay active on the waitlist, it is necessary for you to follow up annually with the transplant center and to update your testing. The UMC Transplant Center is required to keep up-to-date clinical information for all patients on the wait-list. 

  • Patients, referring physicians and dialysis centers are encouraged to keep the UMC Transplant team updated on the candidate’s medical condition. 

  • Patients are informed that they have a responsibility to contact the transplant team if they have any changes in their medical, financial or social status. 

  • If a patient’s medical status should change for any reason while they are on the UNOS wait-list, the transplant nephrologist and/or medical director will be notified. 

  • Reported changes must be made on the UMC Transplant Wait-List within 24 hours so that everyone has up-to-date information about each patient. 

  • A member of the Pancreas Transplant Program team will contact wait-listed patients periodically to review their clinical, financial and contact information. 

 

Surgery 

Pancreas and/or kidney transplants are performed with general anesthesia, so you are not awake during the procedure. The surgical team monitors your heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen level throughout the procedure. 

During the Surgery: 

  • The surgeon makes an incision and places the new pancreas and a small portion of donor intestine into your lower abdomen. Your own pancreas is typically left in place, unless it is causing complications. 

  • The donor intestine is attached to the small intestine or sometimes the bladder. The new pancreas is attached to blood vessels. 

  • If you are receiving a new kidney as well, the blood vessels of the new kidney are attached to blood vessels in the lower part of your abdomen, just above one of your legs. 

  • The new kidney's ureter — the tube that links the kidney to the bladder — is connected to your bladder. 

  • A pancreas transplant surgery usually lasts about three to four hours. A pancreas-kidney transplant can last between four and six hours. 


Possible Complications of the Procedure:

Pancreas transplant surgery carries risks of complications, including: 

  • Blood clots 

  • Bleeding 

  • Infection 

  • Failure of the donated pancreas 

  • Rejection of the donated pancreas

 

Anti-Rejection Medication Side Effects: 

After a pancreas transplant, you will take medications to help prevent your body from rejecting the donor pancreas. These medications can cause a variety of side effects, including: 

  • Acne 

  • Bone thinning 

  • Diabetes 

  • Excessive hair growth 

  • High blood pressure 

  • High cholesterol 

  • Increased risk of cancer, particularly skin cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma 

  • Infection 

  • Puffiness (edema) 

  • Weight gain 

 

Post-Transplant 

Following your pancreas transplant surgery, our world-class team members will continue to provide you with highly specialized care and personalized guidance on your journey to better health. After your surgery, you can expect to: 

  1. Spend a few days to a week in the hospital. Doctors and nurses will monitor your condition in the hospital's transplant recovery area to watch for signs of complications. Your new pancreas will make the insulin your body needs. This often starts immediately. This means you will no longer need insulin treatments and in some cases will be considered no longer diabetic. Expect soreness or pain around the incision site while you are healing. 

  1. Have frequent checkups as you continue recovering. After you leave the hospital, close monitoring is necessary for a few months. Your transplant team will develop a checkup schedule for you. During this time, if you live in another town, you may need to make arrangements to stay close to the transplant center. 

  1. Take medications for the rest of your life. You will take a number of medications after your pancreas transplant. Drugs called “immunosuppressants” help keep your immune system from attacking your new pancreas. Additional drugs help reduce the risk of other complications, such as infection, after your transplant. 

Our team will continue to provide you with follow-up care to ensure you remain healthy and have the best possible quality of life. 

 

UMC Pancreas Transplant Survival Rates

According to the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients, UMC's one-year pancreas graft survival rate is 95 percent. 

If your new pancreas fails, you can resume insulin treatments or consider a second transplant. You may also choose to discontinue treatment. This important decision depends on your current health, your ability to withstand surgery, and your expectations for maintaining a certain quality of life. 


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