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Choosing a transplant center
If your doctor recommends a pancreas transplant, you'll be referred to a transplant center. You're also free to select a transplant center on your own or choose a center from your insurance company's list of preferred providers.
When considering transplant centers, you may want to:
- Learn about the number and type of transplants the center performs each year
- Ask about the transplant center's organ donor and recipient survival rates
- Compare transplant center statistics through the database maintained by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (www.ustransplant.org)
- Consider additional services provided by the transplant center, such as support groups, travel arrangements, local housing for your recovery period and referrals to other resources
After you've selected a transplant center, you'll need an evaluation to determine whether you meet the center's eligibility requirements for a pancreas transplant.
The team at the transplant center will assess whether you:
- Are healthy enough to have surgery and tolerate lifelong post-transplant medications
- Have any medical conditions that would hinder transplant success
- Are willing and able to take medications as directed
If you need a kidney transplant, too, the transplant team will also determine if it's best for you to have the pancreas and kidney transplants during the same surgery, or a kidney transplant first, followed by the pancreas transplant at a later date. The best option depends on the severity of your kidney damage, the availability of donors and your preference.
Once you've been accepted as a candidate for a pancreas transplant, your name will be placed on a national list of people awaiting a transplant. The waiting time for a transplant depends on your blood group and how long it takes for a suitable donor — one whose blood and tissue types match yours — to become available.
Staying healthy
Whether you're waiting for a donated pancreas to become available or your transplant surgery is already scheduled, it's important to keep your mind and body healthy.
- Take your medications as prescribed.
- Follow your diet and exercise guidelines.
- Keep all appointments with your health care team.
- Stay involved in healthy activities, including relaxing and spending time with family and friends.
If you're waiting for a donated pancreas, make sure the transplant team knows how to reach you at all times and arrange transportation to the transplant center in advance.
- Humar A, et al. Transplantation. In: Brunicardi FC, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=799511. Accessed June 24, 2009.
- Robertson RP. Patient selection for and immunologic issues related to kidney-pancreas transplantation in diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- Pancreas Kaplan-Meier graft survival rates for transplants performed 1997-2004, by diagnosis. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/latestData/rptStrat.asp. Accessed July 5, 2009.
- Facts about pancreas transplants. American Society of Transplantation. http://www.a-s-t.org/files/pdf/patient_education/english/AST-EdBroPANCREAS-ENG.pdf. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- American Diabetes Association position statement: Pancreas and islet transplantation in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2006;29:935.
- Getting a kidney-pancreas transplant. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=159. Accessed June 24, 2009.
- Robertson RP. Benefits and complications associated with kidney-pancreas transplantation in diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- Larson-Wadd K, et al. Pancreas and islet cell transplantation. Anesthesiology Clinics of North America. 2004;22:663.
- Coping with the physical side effects of anti-rejection medications. American Society of Transplantation. http://www.healthytransplant.com/index.php?q=quality_of_life/coping_with_the_physical_side_effect_of_anti-rejection_medications. Accessed July 5, 2009.
- Punch JD. Organ transplantation. In: Doherty GM, et al. Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2066708. Accessed June 24, 2009.
- Robertson RP. Pancreas and islet transplantation in diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- OPTN/SRTR annual report: Adjusted graft survival by year of transplant at 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years, kidney-pancreas transplants — pancreas graft. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. http://www.ustransplant.org/annual_reports/current/809b_kp.htm. Accessed July 7, 2009.
- OPTN/SRTR annual report: Adjusted graft survival by year of transplant at 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years, pancreas after kidney (PAK) transplants. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. http://www.ustransplant.org/annual_reports/current/709_pak.htm. Accessed July 7, 2009.
- OPTN/SRTR annual report: Adjusted graft survival by year of transplant at 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years, pancreas transplant alone (PTA) transplants. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. http://www.ustransplant.org/annual_reports/current/609_pta.htm. Accessed July 7, 2009.
