Pancreas & Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation
“A Definitive Cure for Diabetes”
Pancreas transplantation is a surgical procedure in which a healthy pancreas from a deceased donor is implanted into a recipient whose pancreas no longer produces enough insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. It is currently the only proven treatment that can restore natural insulin production and eliminate the need for insulin injections in patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM).
Indications
- While most candidates have Type 1 diabetes, pancreas transplantation can be considered for:
- Type 1 diabetes with brittle control and frequent hypoglycemia
- Type 1 diabetes with kidney failure – combined pancreas-kidney transplant
- Select Type 2 diabetes cases with low insulin production
- Patients with severe diabetic complications (neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy)
Types of Pancreas Transplants
- Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney (SPK) Transplant – For patients with diabetes and end-stage kidney disease; most common type, accounting for ~70% of pancreas transplants.
- Pancreas After Kidney (PAK) Transplant – For patients who already received a kidney transplant earlier.
- Pancreas Transplant Alone (PTA) – For patients with severe unstable diabetes but normal kidney function.
Benefits
- Restores natural insulin secretion and normal blood sugar levels
- Eliminates need for insulin injections
- Prevents further progression of diabetes-related complications
- Improves quality of life and life expectancy
- Reduces risk of severe hypoglycemia
Procedure Overview
- Donor Selection: Organ from a brain-dead donor with matching blood type and tissue compatibility
- Surgical Technique: Donor pancreas (often with a segment of duodenum) is transplanted into the recipient’s abdomen, connected to the blood vessels and intestine or bladder for drainage
- Hospital Stay: Typically 1–2 weeks post-transplant
- Recovery: Immunosuppressive medications required lifelong to prevent rejection
Risks & Challenges
- Rejection of the transplanted organ
- Surgical complications (bleeding, infection, thrombosis)
- Side effects of long-term immunosuppression (infections, malignancy risk)
- Organ availability is limited
Outcomes
- Success Rates: One-year graft survival >85–90%, patient survival >95%
- Long-term insulin independence in majority of cases
- Better glycemic control reduces microvascular and macrovascular complications
Madras Transplant Associates’s Pancreas Transplant Program
- At Madras Transplant Associates, pancreas transplantation is offered as part of our Advanced Transplant & Cellular Medicine Division, featuring:
- Multidisciplinary transplant team with expertise in abdominal organ transplantation
- State-of-the-art surgical facilities and ICU care
- Tailored immunosuppressive regimens to minimize side effects
- Integrated diabetes complication management
- Post-transplant rehabilitation and long-term follow-up
