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However, it is also possible for the kidney to come from a living donor a family member or friend and the pancreas from a deceased donor. The first successful kidney-pancreas transplant in the United States took place in Since then, many of these operations take place each year. In , about were done at transplant centers in the United States.
Adults who have kidney failure because of type 1 diabetes are possible candidates for a kidney-pancreas transplant. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin, a hormone that controls the blood sugar level in your body. The transplanted pancreas can make insulin and correct this type of diabetes. Kidney-pancreas transplants are rarely, but sometimes, used for Type 2 diabetes. In many cases, a pancreas transplant may not work well in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, a pancreas transplant can be effective in select cases.
In general, people with type 2 diabetes can still have a kidney transplant if they have kidney failure because of their diabetes. It is important to have a conversation with a healthcare professional to find out if these treatments are appropriate for your individual circumstances.
Sometimes, a patient who has kidney failure because of type 1 diabetes may have a kidney transplant first, followed by a pancreas transplant at a later date. The waiting time for a kidney-pancreas transplant varies from person to person and can be affected by your blood type and how long it takes for a suitable deceased donor to become available. The average wait for a simultaneous kidney and pancreas is about 3 years. As of September , there are more than 2, candidates listed on the national waiting list awaiting a kidney-pancreas transplant.
The purpose was to help make more organs available and. For living donors, the best results are usually seen with a closely matched kidney from a living donor usually from a sibling. The next best results are seen with a kidney from a less closely matched living donor such as a spouse or friend. The success rates are also good for combined kidney-pancreas transplants from deceased donors.
The best results are usually seen when both the pancreas and a kidney come from the same donor: a deceased donor. This is because the risk of rejection is greatly reduced. However, there have been many transplants performed using a living donor, with one kidney and a pancreas segment being donated.
Medicare pays for many of the kidney-pancreas transplant costs. If you have private insurance, you should check with your insurance agent about coverage for this transplant. This may help to pay for some of the costs. The social worker or a financial counselor at your transplant center may be able to help you find local, state or national programs that can help with the costs of the transplant and post-operation treatment, including needed medicines. Start by speaking to your doctor about whether a kidney-pancreas transplant would be a good treatment choice for you.
You will be referred to a transplant center. You will need to speak to the transplant coordinator at the center, who will make plans for you to have a complete medical evaluation. This evaluation will help you and your healthcare team decide whether the transplant would be a good choice for you. In general, patients with type 1 diabetes and kidney failure are considered for kidney-pancreas transplants only if they do not have other serious problems related to diabetes, such as heart disease or severe blood vessel disease. You will meet with many transplant team members including a transplant surgeon, a kidney doctor, a transplant coordinator and a social worker at the transplant center.
In addition to a medical history review and physical examination, you may receive:. If all the tests go well, you will be accepted for a kidney-pancreas transplant and placed on the transplant center's waiting list. In the kidney-pancreas transplant operation, the pancreas is placed on the right side of your lower abdomen and the kidney is placed in the left side of the lower abdomen. Usually, your own kidneys and pancreas are not removed.
The surgical procedure usually lasts four to six hours, and your hospital stay is usually two to four weeks.
After the surgery, the pancreas begins to make insulin within hours, and the blood sugar is controlled. From this point on, insulin shots are usually not needed unless the body rejects the new pancreas. If there are no problems such as rejection or infection, you should be able to go home in seven to ten days.
A pancreas transplant offers a potential cure for people with serious complications from diabetes. Learn about what to expect before and after. Transplantation of an immediately vascularized pancreas allograft is the only therapy that consistently restores insulin independence in.
Your place on a waiting list is based on a number of factors. These factors include the type of kidney problems you have and the likelihood that a transplant will be successful.
You will need to stay in the hospital for about 3 to 7 days or longer. After you go home, you will need close follow-up by a doctor and regular blood tests for 1 to 2 months or longer.
Your transplant team may ask you to stay close to the hospital for the first 3 months. You will need to have regular check-ups with blood tests and imaging tests for many years. If the transplant is successful, you will no longer need to take insulin shots, test your blood-sugar daily, or follow a diabetes diet. There is evidence that the complications of diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy, may not get worse and may even improve after a pancreas-kidney transplant.
You must take medicines that prevent rejection of the donated pancreas and kidney for the rest of your life. Becker Y, Witkowski P. Kidney and pancreas transplantation.
Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Pancreas and kidney transplantation for diabetic nephropathy. Kidney Transplantation: Principles and Practice. Updated by: Debra G. Editorial team. Pancreas transplant. Why the Procedure is Performed. High blood sugar over a long time can cause many complications, including: Amputations Disease of the arteries Blindness Heart disease Kidney damage Nerve damage Stroke A pancreas transplant can cure diabetes and eliminate the need for insulin shots.
Risks of anesthesia and surgery in general include: Reactions to medicines Breathing problems Risks of pancreas transplant include: Clotting thrombosis of the arteries or veins of the new pancreas Development of certain cancers after a few years Inflammation of the pancreas pancreatitis Leakage of fluid from the new pancreas where it attaches to the intestine or bladder Rejection of the new pancreas. Before the Procedure. Tests done before the procedure include: Tissue and blood typing to help make sure your body will not reject the donated organs Blood tests or skin tests to check for infections Heart tests such as an ECG , echocardiogram , or cardiac catheterization Tests to look for early cancer You will also want to consider one or more transplant centers to determine which is best for you: Ask the center how many transplants they perform every year and what their survival rates are.
Compare these numbers to those of other transplant centers. Ask about support groups they have available and what type of travel and housing arrangements they offer.
While you are waiting for a pancreas and kidney, follow these steps: Follow any diet your transplant team recommends. DO NOT drink alcohol. DO NOT smoke. Keep your weight in the range that has been recommended. Follow any recommended exercise program. Take all medicines as they have been prescribed for you. Report changes in your medicines and any new or worsening medical problems to the transplant team.