Pancreas transplant
Alternative names:
transplant of the pancreas
Definition:
Surgery to replace a diseased pancreas with a healthy pancreas from a donor.
Description:
Pancreas transplants are not very common in the U.S. (about 150 cases per year)and may be done at the same time as a kidney transplant in diabetic patients. The operation is technically more difficult than a kidney or heart transplant. The healthy pancreas is obtained from a donor who has suffered brain-death but remains on life-support. The healthy pancreas is transported in a cooled saline solution that preserves the organ for up to 12 hours, permitting the necessary analyses to determine blood and tissue donor-recipient matching.
The diseased pancreas and the duodenum are removed through an incision in the upper abdomen. The donor pancreas and duodenum are inserted in place and attached to the patient's blood vessels, bile ducts, and stomach.
Indications:
Pancreas transplant may be recommended for pancreatic disease, especially insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Pancreas transplant surgery is not recommended for patients who have:
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