Pancreas Transplants

Pancreas transplant options at The Transplant Institute at Methodist Dallas

Pancreas Transplant or Pancreas-After-Kidney Transplant Guidelines

• People under the age of 50 with type 1 diabetes who also meet the guidelines for kidney transplant can be considered for a kidney-pancreas transplant or pancreas transplant.
• For a pancreas-after-kidney transplant, the kidney must be functioning at a level of 60 percent or greater and be stable for longer than one year.

Pancreas Transplant or Pancreas-After-Kidney Transplant Screening Tests

Potential pancreas or pancreas-after-kidney transplant candidates at The Transplant Institute at Methodist Health System will undergo thorough medical screening tests to help uncover medical problems or conditions that could interfere with a successful organ transplant. Treating any problems early on helps increase the chances that you and your new organ will thrive after transplant surgery.

Pancreas Transplant or Pancreas-After-Kidney Transplant Surgery

All pancreas transplant procedures are performed by independently practicing physicians on the medical staff at Methodist Health System.

• Whole-organ pancreas transplant is performed using enteric (intestinal) drainage of the pancreatic enzymes.
• As with kidney transplant, in a pancreas transplant the blood vessels are connected first, and then the drainage tubes.
• If a person is receiving both a pancreas and a kidney, the pancreas is placed first.
• Pancreas or kidney-pancreas transplant surgery can take four to six hours.
• Normal blood sugar levels can be reached soon thereafter.