A pancreas transplant is a surgical procedure in which a functional and healthy pancreas from a donor is placed in a patient whose pancreas isn’t functioning adequately. An organ of the body that is located on the back in the lower part of the abdomen is called the pancreas.
It is used to make insulin, which regulates the absorption of sugar into cells. Due to health problems like diabetes, the pancreas stops producing the required amount of insulin hormone. As a result, this would impair the regulation of glucose consumption by cells. For this reason, a pancreas transplant is recommended.
Under general anesthesia, the pancreas transplant takes place, while the period to complete is between three and six hours. The duration can vary depending on the type of transplant the patient has. However, the success rate of pancreas transplant procedures in India is slightly higher, with a life expectancy rate of five years.
The cost of a pancreas transplant in India is estimated to be Rs 2 00,000, which ranges up to Rs 4, 00,000. However, this price can be more or less based on numerous factors. These aspects are the type of pancreas transplant surgery, post-transplant medications, current health risks & complications, the expertise and experience of the surgeon, period of stay in the hospital, clinical infrastructure and location of the hospital/transplantation center, use of technology, rehabilitation and recovery and a number of physical check-ups.
With pancreas transplant surgery, improving blood sugar control and restoring insulin production is done. For people who experience the below condition may be advised to consider a pancreas transplant.
People with both low insulin production and low insulin resistance should undergo a pancreas transplant. However, most pancreas transplant surgery is performed to aid type 1-diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes should have only the option to prefer a transplant. Other conditions that require transplant include bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, or other cancers.
Now, let's discuss the different types of pancreas transplant
Surgeons often suggest people with diabetes who are at high risk of kidney failure for a combined kidney-pancreas transplant. Most pancreas treatments are done provocatively simultaneously with a kidney transplant. This method aims to provide the patient with a functional, healthy pancreas and kidney that is improbable to add to future diabetic kidney damage.
Perfect candidates for this approach are all people who have diabetes but do not currently have or have early kidney disease. This method involves the position of a well-functioning pancreas in a patient whose pancreas has stopped working adequately.
In this method, the stem-producing cells are kept from the pancreas of a deceased donor and then injected into a vein that carries blood to the patient's liver. The approach requires more than one injection of the transplanted islet cells. This approach is best for patients with progressive and serious type 1 diabetes risks.
In this approach, the patient undergoes first kidney transplant surgery and then goes for a pancreas transplant after a gap of some time. This type of transplant is suitable for patients with diabetes and last-stage renal disease who haven't been donors for a pancreas transplant.
Q1. What are the possible side effects of Pancreas Transplant?
Ans: After a pancreas transplant, even if the surgery was performed successfully, the patient may experience chronic or acute rejection following the transplant. To reduce the chances of rejection, you must take anti-rejection medicines. This will result in other medical conditions and infections, including inflammation, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, high cholesterol, acne, swollen gums, weight gain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive hair loss or growth, etc.
Q2. Why is a pancreas transplant required?
Ans: A person suffering from the severe risk of type 1 diabetes has the last treatment option to go for a pancreas transplant. Healthcare providers usually do not suggest this procedure if standard treatments may be helpful. This may be due to the potential side effects of a pancreas transplant, which are quite high. In addition to diabetes, a pancreas transplant is recommended for people with recurrent insulin reactions, type 1 diabetes, severe kidney damage, and low insulin resistance.
Q3. What is the age limit for a pancreas transplant?
Ans: There is no age bar for pancreas transplants in India. However, surgery is sometimes done in older people because they have multiple health problems.
Q4. What if the pancreas transplant fails?
Ans: Rejecting the pancreas after surgery cause raised blood sugars or abdominal pain. People who undergo kidney and pancreas transplants at the same time may experience excessive aches in the kidney and passage of less urine.