Pancreas Transplant

Types

Mayo Clinic surgeons perform several types of pancreas transplants, including:

• Solitary pancreas transplant. A solitary pancreas transplant involves replacement of your pancreas without other surgeries. Advances in medication that suppress organ rejection (immunosuppressants) have helped improve transplant outcomes. Diabetics who have early or no kidney disease and poor blood sugar control may be candidates for pancreas transplant.
• Pancreas-after-kidney transplant. If you receive a kidney transplant from a living donor, you'll usually receive a pancreas transplant after you've recovered. Diabetics who receive a kidney transplant may need a pancreas transplant to improve blood sugar control and prevent other complications.
• Combined kidney-pancreas transplant. Surgeons can perform a kidney-pancreas transplantation from a cadaver donor. However, the waiting time for a cadaver kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant may be several years. During this waiting period, your health may deteriorate, making dialysis necessary before a transplant can occur. If a suitable living donor is available, separate transplants may proceed more quickly and may help you avoid dialysis.
• Islet cell transplant. Islet cell transplant may be an option if you have Type I diabetes. During an islet cell transplant, doctors inject insulin-producing cells (islet cells) taken from a deceased donor's pancreas into a vein that takes blood to the liver.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., has obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to offer islet cell transplantation as a research procedure. Mayo Clinic offers islet cell transplantation to people who meet specific criteria, and only a few people may be suitable candidates.