What is a Kidney Pancreas Transplant?
Combined transplantation of the kidney and pancreas is performed for those
who have kidney failure as a complication of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
(also called Type I diabetes). Kidney and pancreas transplant candidates might be
currently on dialysis or might require dialysis in the near future. After combined transplantation of the kidney and pancreas, the kidney will be
able to filter and excrete wastes so dialysis will not be needed. The
transplanted pancreas will produce insulin to control the diabetes. Am I a candidate for the double transplant?
If
you have Type I diabetes and you have kidney failure, or if your doctor thinks that
kidney failure is beginning, the double transplant (combined kidney and
pancreas) can be considered as a treatment option. Your doctor and transplant
surgeon can determine if the double transplant is needed based on your medical
condition, your overall health, and the results of a pre-transplant evaluation. A
pre-transplant evaluation includes a complete physical, consultations with a
transplant coordinator and surgeon, and a series of tests, including heart
and bladder evaluations. Where does my new kidney and pancreas come from?
Kidneys
for transplantation come from two sources: living donors and deceased
(non-living) donors. Living donors are usually immediate family members or
sometimes spouses. Deceased donor kidneys come from people whose families give
permission for organ donation at the time of death. Three out of four kidney
transplants are performed with deceased donor kidneys. Combined kidney and pancreas transplants and single pancreas transplants are
only performed with deceased donor organs. All donors are carefully screened to prevent any transmissible diseases or
other complications. The donor is also carefully evaluated to make sure there is
a suitable match to your tissue and blood type. What is the procedure for receiving a deceased donor transplant?
After your doctor and transplant surgeon have determined the double transplant
is needed, you will be placed on a waiting list to receive a deceased donor kidney and
pancreas. Your name and blood test results will be placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing's
(UNOS) national list. When a deceased donor kidney and pancreas become available for transplantation, they
are given to the best possible match, based on blood type, tissue (HLA) type,
cross-match compatibility, and the length of time the recipient has been waiting.
If a perfect match (six antigen match) is identified through the national list,
the recipient matching the donor will be notified. How long will I have to wait before I receive my transplant?
It
is impossible to predict how long a wait there will be before a deceased donor
kidney and pancreas become available. The average wait is about 24 to 36 months;
however, it's possible the wait could be from a few days to many years. Some
people might have to wait longer than others for their transplants because their
blood and tissue types might be less common, so it takes longer to find a
compatible match. What happens during the kidney and pancreas transplant surgery?
Kidney
and pancreas transplantation involves placing a healthy kidney and pancreas into
the body where they can perform all of the functions that a failing kidney and
pancreas cannot. The new kidney is placed on the lower left side of the abdomen where it is
surgically connected to nearby blood vessels. Placing the kidney in this
position allows it to be easily connected to blood vessels and the bladder. The
vein and artery of the new kidney are attached to your vein and artery. The new
kidney's ureter is attached to your bladder to allow urine to pass out of your
body. The new pancreas is placed on the lower right side of your abdomen where it
is surgically connected to nearby blood vessels. The vein and artery of the new
pancreas are attached to your vein and artery. The kidney and pancreas transplant surgery takes from five to seven hours. Transplant
patients generally stay in the hospital about eight to 12 days. What is the success rate of the double transplant?
After
the double transplant is performed, there is an 80 percent to 85 percent chance that the
patient will require no insulin and no dialysis for one year. In addition, there
is a 70 percent chance that this success will continue over the next five years. What are the benefits of double organ transplantation?
A
successful kidney and pancreas transplant gives you increased strength, stamina,
and energy. After transplantation, you should be able to return to a more normal
lifestyle and have more control over your daily living. You can have a normal
diet and more normal fluid intake. If you were dependent on dialysis before the transplant, you'll have more
freedom because you won't be bound to your dialysis schedule. The pancreas
transplant will keep your blood sugar normal. Frequently after transplantation,
your blood sugar level before eating will be 90 or less. After a meal, it might
reach 140 -- all without insulin. Further complications of diabetes might be
delayed with better blood sugar control. What are the risks of double organ transplantation?
Since
two organs are transplanted, the risk of surgical complications is about twice
that of a single organ transplant (such as a kidney-only transplant). Since the
pancreas is joined to the bladder during the operation, some loss of fluids
occurs. You might need to drink more than usual after the transplant surgery in
order to prevent dehydration. There is also a risk of rejection after any type of transplant surgery.
Rejection is your body's way of not accepting the new kidney and pancreas. Since
your body recognizes the new organs as foreign objects, it will normally try to
get rid of them or "reject" them.
However, you are given medicines to prevent rejection. You will need to
take these medicines for life and have your blood work drawn as scheduled to
prevent rejection episodes. Are pancreas transplants performed without kidney transplants?
In
some circumstances, a pancreas transplant can be performed without a kidney
transplant. The pancreas transplant might be performed for patients who have
already had a kidney transplant or for patients who do not have kidney failure,
but who have complications of Type I diabetes. The rate of pancreas transplant
complications is similar to that of a kidney and pancreas transplant, but the
chances of long-term success are not as good. However, newer drugs and better
tissue-matching procedures can offer a reasonable success rate. Your doctor and
transplant surgeon can determine if the pancreas transplant is needed without
the kidney transplant, based on your medical condition. References
Port, Friedrich K. et. al.
"Comparison of Survival Probabilities for Dialysis Patients vs. Cadaveric
Renal Transplant Recipients." Journal of the American Medical
Association. Vol. 270 (1993), pp. 1339-1343. Stratta, Robert J. et. al. "The Analysis of Benefit and Risk of Combined
Pancreatic and Renal Transplantation versus Renal Transplantation Alone." Surgery,
Gynecology, and Obstetrics. Vol. 177 (1993), pp. 163-171. ©
Copyright 1995-2010 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved
index#4754
| 
