Some clinical studies have shown that diabetic patients undergoing kidney
transplantation alone have a lower graft survival when compared with diabetic patients
undergoing kidney and pancreas transplant procedures together. It is customary in most centers to transplant both kidney and pancreas together from the same donor. Monitoring is then done for the rejection episodes of both organs via the kidney graft. Most patients enjoying a normal life away from dialysis and threat of hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episodes.
The operative procedure takes approximately five to seven hours for both
organs together, and most patients are hospitalized for two to three weeks.
Pancreas-only transplantation is also considered in very selected cases
where renal failure is not present but diabetes management is difficult, or where the
patient is under threat of other severe complications, such as blindness. Selectivity is
based on a graft survival rate of at least 15 to 20 percent below that of kidney/pancreas,
though recent advances in this field have led to improved outcomes with pancreas-only
transplants.
The kidney/pancreas transplantation team includes transplant surgeons,
endocrinologists and nephrologists as well as ancillary personnel.
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