A pancreatic transplant is the surgical replacement of a patient’s damaged pancreas. It may be recommended for patients unable to take insulin to regulate their glucose (blood sugar) levels and those with severe hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia or other complications of type 1 diabetes.

Some patients receive a whole pancreas, but in about half of these cases the body rejects the organ. Other patients receive a partial pancreas from a living donor. Pancreas transplants are most often and most successfully performed along with a kidney transplant.

The first pancreas transplant to treat type 1 diabetes was performed in 1966. During 2005, nearly 1,500 pancreas or combined kidney-pancreas transplants were completed, according to the U.S. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

Potential candidates for a pancreas transplant are evaluated by a healthcare team. Patients whose evaluation indicates that they may be a candidate for surgery are then placed on a waiting list to receive a healthy pancreas from a donor.

After the donor organ is found, it must be transplanted into the waiting patient within 12 to 15 hours. The new organ is placed in the abdominal cavity near the damaged pancreas and attached to the blood supply and either the bladder or intestine. Recovery from the procedure may take about three weeks.  

After the procedure, the patient is given follow-up care instructions. This includes taking immunosuppressive medications to prevent the body from rejecting the organ. Periodic appointments with a physician are necessary to test the body’s response to the organ and the medications.

Patients who undergo a successful pancreas transplant are likely to have normal glucose levels and need no insulin injections. The transplant may also halt and reverse diabetes-related damage to the body.

However, a pancreas transplant is highly risky and has significant side effects, including organ rejection. Patients who undergo this procedure have an increased risk of internal bleeding, the development of blood clots, cancer and infections.