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Pancreas transplant - Recovery

Alternative Names

Transplant - pancreas; Transplantation - pancreas

After the Procedure:

See Kidney transplant for more information.

Outlook (Prognosis):

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.

More than 95% of people survive the first year after a pancreas transplant. The risks for organ rejection are about 1% each year.

You must take drugs that prevent rejection of the donated pancreas and kidney for the rest of your life.

The quality of life after a pancreas transplant has improved. Almost all patients find that managing daily life is a lot easier and more satisfying.

See: Kidney transplant for more information.

Endocrine glands

Pancreas transplant - series

Reviewed last on: 5/4/2011
Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Lipshutz GS, Wilkinson AH. Pancreas-kidney and pancreas transplantation for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2007;36(4).

White SA, Shaw JA, Sutherland DE. Pancreas transplantation. Lancet. 2009; 373(9677):1808-1817.

Markmann FJ, Yeh H, Naji A, et al. Transplantation of abdominal organs. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008: chap 28.

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