Pancreas transplantation
This is an operation in which a transplant of a healthy pancreas capable of producing reasonable amounts of insulin performed. Given that this is a vital organ, the native pancreas not removed, and the donor organ located elsewhere.
Transplant Indications
In the vast majority of cases, people with diabetes become candidates for transplantation. Indications for transplantation are complex cases of hypoglycemia, as well as repeated refusal to control glycemia using the standard treatment.
Almost all people who have type 1 diabetes also suffer from kidney failure, which is why, in addition to pancreas transplantation, they also need a kidney transplant. In this regard, transplant options include:
- Simultaneous transplantation of a kidney and pancreas.
- Kidney transplantation, and after that, pancreatic transplantation.
- A pancreas transplant only.
Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages. The doctor selects the optimal method of transplantation based on diagnostic studies.
Relative contraindications
- Myocardial infarction, which happened before the operation;
- Percutaneous coronary interventions;
- incurable diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- Coronary artery bypass graft;
- The Patient is older than 55 years.
Transplantation technique
The donor pancreas is located laterally in the lower abdomen. Sometimes transplantation will fail along with a kidney. Then the organ is located in the lower-left quadrant, and the pancreas located in the right. In the operating room, the donor iliac artery reconstructed to restore the splenic artery and superior mesenteric artery of the organ transplant. Due to this, only one highway used to connect to the recipient’s blood vessels.
Rejection risk
After transplantation, the recipient forced to take particular drugs until the end of his life. But even this does not guarantee that organ rejection does not begin. This complication develops in approximately 50% of cases. With a simultaneous kidney transplant and pancreas, the risk of rejection is slightly higher than only with kidney transplantation. At the same time, rejections can develop months and even years after transplantation and have a relapsing character.
Why is a pancreas transplant better done at Tel Aviv Medical Clinic?
The Israeli medical center Tel Aviv Medical Clinic employs some of the best transplant doctors who, over the years of their medical practice, have performed a vast number of pancreas transplant operations. The transplantology department of Tel Aviv Medical Clinic equipped with the most modern and expensive equipment, and the best specialists work in it.