The pancreas is a small organ located behind the stomach and in front of the spine. It is responsible for the secretion of insulin and glucagon hormones that balance blood sugar in the body and form energy stores. Pancreas transplantation is the surgical replacement of a dysfunctional pancreas with a partial removal of the pancreas from a recently deceased or healthy person. It is a form of surgical treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes patients. The first pancreas transplant was performed at the University of Minnesota in 1966. The biggest dream of Type 1 patients who start diabetes at an early age is to get rid of insulin one day. After successful transplant surgeries, patients have a chance to quit insulin. At the same time, their quality of life increases. However, pancreas transplantation is not performed in every diabetic patient. There are rules to be followed for the patients who will be transplanted.
What is Pancreas Transplantation? How is it done?
In organ transplantation, the donor is called a donor. The people selected as donors in pancreas transplantation are those who have brain death but whose organs are intact. The removed organ can be kept in a solution and cold for 20 hours until the time of transplantation. Usually, the diseased pancreas is not removed, but the healthy pancreas is placed in the lower right side of the patient's abdomen. The vessels of the new pancreas are combined with the vessels of the patient.
Pancreas transplantation surgery can be performed in 2 ways:
Pancreas Transplantation Only: It is suitable for patients with diabetes but no or mild kidney disease.
Kidney transplantation for diabetics with kidney failure together with pancreas transplantation
If a suitable kidney is found, first kidney transplantation can be performed and then pancreas transplantation can be performed.
Pancreas Islet Cell Transplantation: Pancreas transplantation is an operation performed together with kidney surgery and takes approximately 6 hours. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. After the operation, the patient is taken to the intensive care unit. Patients can stay in the hospital for 2 weeks after the operation, depending on the situation. They are followed closely for 3 months after discharge.
Who Are the Eligible Patients for Pancreas Transplantation?
Pancreas transplantation is usually performed in patients with Type 1 diabetes to enable them to make insulin again. Insulins of patients with type 1 diabetes very little or none. They need to take insulin from the outside every day. However, they cannot be protected from the long-term complications of diabetes. Since it is a risky operation, it is not applied to all diabetic patients. These are the patients who have a reaction,
Who Should Not Have a Pancreas Transplant?
- Those with a history of cancer,
- HIV/AIDS patients,
- Patients with active hepatitis,
- Severe lung disease,
- Advanced obesity,
- Vein occlusions in the neck and legs,
- Smoking
How Does the Pre-Pancreas Transplant Process Work?
Blood tests and radiological examinations are performed before transplant candidates. Tissue and blood group are detected.
Blood and skin tests, electrocardiography and echocardiography, cardiac catheterization can be seen for the detection of infections. Investigation of the presence of cancer, weight and height determination, appropriate diet plan until the operation, chest X-ray, blood pressure monitoring, urinalysis, kidney and liver function tests, complete blood count are required.
Pancreas Transplant or Islet Transplant Provides Benefit in Treatment Is it?
If pancreas transplantation is successful, the patient may no longer need insulin. The patient also gets rid of frequent daily glucose measurements and dietary restrictions. It was observed that hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia attacks disappeared in patients after transplantation.
Pancreas transplantation is partially effective on kidney and nervous system complications in patients with diabetes, but it does not completely eliminate the risk.
These operations are usually performed 20 years after the diagnosis of diabetes. There is no information on whether diabetes complications can be prevented in patients with early transplantation. After successful surgeries, patients can live for decades.
What are the Symptoms of Organ Rejection in Pancreas Transplantation?
- Pain and swelling in the abdomen,
- Fever,
- Feeling sick
- Shakes, pain,
- Weakness, fatigue,
- Swelling of feet and ankles,
- Difficulty of breath.
How Nutrition Should Be After Pancreas Transplantation?
A suitable diet list is prepared for the kidneys and pancreas to function properly after transplantation. A healthy diet and exercise can reduce the complications of infection, heart attack and bone weakening after transplantation. Generally recommended healthy diet:
- 5 servings of vegetables and fruits every day,
- Lean meat, chicken and fish,
- Whole grain products,
- Adequate fiber intake,
- Low-fat milk and dairy products,
- Reducing salt intake,
- Staying away from saturated fats such as butter,
- Staying away from excessive caffeine and alcohol,
- Drinking enough water,
- Staying away from grapefruit, orange and pomegranate due to interactions with some drugs (this information will be informed by the physician. ),
- To reduce the risk of infection, it is necessary to pay attention to food safety, to consume fresh food that has not been waited, and to cook it properly.
- Excess weight gain is not desired after the transplant surgery. For this reason, besides a healthy diet, regular exercise should be done.
- Patients should pay attention to their sleep patterns after the transplant.
Is Pancreas Transplantation Performed in Turkey?
Although it is not as frequent as other organ transplantations, cadaveric pancreas transplantation can be performed in our country. It can be done in some public and private hospitals licensed by the Ministry of Health in the provinces of Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara and Malatya. The National Tissue and Organ Transplant Coordination Center decides to whom the pancreas of a person with brain death will be transplanted to. available from the transmitter. In such surgeries, the tissue group of the donor must be suitable. A small part of the pancreas is removed by surgery.
Is There a Place for Pancreas Transplantation in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreas transplantation is especially applied to patients with Type 1 diabetes. pancreatic cancer treatment
Can Type 2 Diabetes Patients Benefit From Pancreas Transplantation?
Pancreas transplantation is especially performed for Type 1 diabetes patients. There are few surgeries performed on Type 2 diabetes cases in the world.
What are the Requirements for Pancreas Transplantation?
Patients suitable for pancreas transplantation are registered in the organ transplantation department. Here they are placed on the transplant list. When a suitable donor (donor) is found, the decision for surgery is made quickly.
Does Pancreas Transplantation Have an Effect on Sexual Life?
The quality of sexual life depends on the occurrence of complications of kidney disease and diabetes. If advanced complications due to kidney disease and diabetes have not occurred, the patient can return to normal sexual life after a short time.
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