About Pancreas Transplantation
Pancreas transplantation is the most effective
treatment currently available to maintain glucose
(blood sugar) control, a problem diabetic patients
experience. In patients with Type
I (insulin-dependent) diabetes,
restoring glucose metabolism to normal levels
with pancreas transplantation can help prevent
complications from diabetes. It can also eliminate
the risk of sudden death from hypoglycemic unawareness.
During surgery, the patient will be under general
anesthesia. During this time, the surgeon will
make an 8- to 10-inch incision above the groin
area on either the right or left side. In some
instances, the physician will make an incision
in the middle of the abdomen.
If a patient is
receiving a simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplant,
the surgeon will place the kidney on one side
and the pancreas on the other. In a pancreas
transplant after a kidney transplant, the pancreas
is placed on the side opposite the functioning
kidney. The surgeon will transplant the new
pancreas by attaching its artery and vein to
the recipient's artery and vein.
Advances in immunosuppressants have
led to shorter hospital stays and improved outcomes
after pancreas transplantation. The current
average length of stay for a pancreas transplant
at Penn is 4-5 days.
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