What To Expect From A Pancreas Transplant

Types Of Transplants

Some individuals who have experienced complications from diabetes that involve damage to their kidneys may need to have what is called a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant or a surgical procedure where the pancreatic tissues and a kidney are replaced at the same time. When a patient who needs a pancreas transplant progresses into end-stage renal disease, a pancreas after kidney transplant may be needed. In such cases, the transplantation of the kidney is performed before the pancreas because a living kidney donor is being used. Following the living donor kidney transplant, the patient waits until a donor transplant from a deceased individual to become available. 

The factors that determine what type of pancreatic transplant a patient will need depends on their health and the amount of time they can afford to wait for donor organs to become available. On average, a patient who undergoes a simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant has a waiting time of one to two years. An individual who needs to have a pancreas transplant alone may have a wait time that exceeds two years. An average wait time of over two years is also typical in patients who undergo a pancreas after kidney transplant.