How long does pancreas transplant last

In other words, after 10 years, half of the transplanted pancreases are still working, which in terms of organ transplants is very good.

Those that are still working typically go on to work for many more years. Surgeons are hopeful that this success rate will climb even higher in the future because of ongoing improvements in medication that support the functioning of the transplanted pancreas. Rejection is a signal that the patient's immune system has identified the new pancreas as foreign tissue and is trying to get rid of it.

Preventing rejection with immune-suppressing medication is the first priority. If the rejection episode is verified through blood work, biopsy and ultrasound, then the transplant team will increase the amount of anti-rejection medication or prescribe a different combination of anti-rejection drug therapy. Using medicine, we can successfully reverse most rejection episodes, if we detect it early enough.

However, if the episode is severe, it may shorten the overall life span of the new pancreas. For the first three to six months after your transplant, you will have frequent follow-up visits with the transplant team and frequent laboratory tests. Gradually, however, you will see the transplant team less often.

At this stage, you can look forward to having more time for yourself and your activities. You will become even more responsible for maintaining your own health. Always tell your healthcare providers that you have had a transplant, so if you do become ill, they can determine whether your symptoms are, or are not, related to your transplant. We recommend you keep a list of your current medications, as well as any drug allergies, with you at all times.

Because of the medication you must take, transplant patients are more likely to be affected by germs that may be on or in foods. You should wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating and avoid raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish, sushi, raw shellfish and raw eggs in any form including cookie dough and eggnog. Also, you cannot have grapefruit or any juices or beverages containing grapefruit because they will interfere with your medications.

Because you feel better with your new organ, your diet will be less restricted. Also, some medicines may increase appetite. Therefore, it is very important for you to follow a healthy diet to avoid gaining too much weight. The transplant team works with each patient to develop an individualized diet plan, taking into consideration special needs and restrictions.

It will take time to regain strength and endurance after a transplant, but eventually you can resume normal activity. Walking and stair climbing are excellent exercises for maintaining muscle tone and strength.

You should consider walking 5 to 10 minutes a day when you first arrive home following surgery and then slowly increase the time you walk each week. Do not begin strenuous exercises, such as contact sports, jogging, tennis and weightlifting, for at least two months after the operation.

It is normal to tire easily so you should rest when tired. You should not smoke after transplant and every attempt to quit prior to the transplant is crucial to extend your life and the life of the new pancreas.

The transplant team will let you know when you can begin to drive again, return to work or school, and travel. You can decide when to resume sexual activity depending upon how you feel. Postoperative discomfort usually does not interrupt sexual activity for more than a few weeks.

The financial coordinator on the transplant team, along with the social worker, will help you map out a financial plan to cover costs associated with transplant care, surgery and medication.

Patients typically finance costs associated with their transplant by combining more than one financial resource. There are several options for those who do not have any type of health coverage, and there are policies and laws designed to help transplant patients with special financial needs.

The Transplant Institute's social worker and financial counselor help develop a workable plan for each patient. Out-of-pocket costs following a transplant are highly variable, based on whether you have insurance or whether you are eligible for Medicare or Medicaid coverage. We understand that finances are a major concern for patients, and good planning will help to reduce this stress.

Your financial counselor will review your own unique situation, and help you on an individual basis address your financial concerns and available resources. Together we can help you manage the financial impact of your illness, transplant surgery and long-term recovery. United Network for Organ Sharing www. Search Submit Search. Find a Doctor.

The wait for a pancreas can be quite long—on average, about 3 years. Surgeons may plan to do a pancreas transplant at the same time as a kidney transplant, to help control blood glucose levels and reduce damage to the new kidney. The chance of rejection is less if the immune characteristics of the donated organ match more and are capable of existing with those of the patient who receives the transplant.

The long-term outlook for people who receive a pancreas transplant is quite good. People who receive simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplants also tend to have less chance of rejection.

A positive long-term result depends on a number of factors including control of blood glucose. Health Home Treatments, Tests and Therapies. Who is a candidate for the transplant? What are the risks? Is there a waiting list? What is the outlook after a pancreas transplant? On the morning of the surgery, Brian remembers hugging his sister Debbie.

Ratner was standing over my bed, beaming. And your new kidney is working fine. Next, we have to get you a new pancreas. Instead of insulin shots and a pump, a new pancreas would produce insulin inside the body, curing diabetes altogether.

A functioning pancreas also protects the kidney transplant, and the new organs last far longer together. Within a week, Brian was out of the hospital and finally free of the dialysis machine. If you put your mind to it, you can bounce right back. Ratner helped Brian navigate two temporary side-effects of his kidney transplant as he recovered at home—high blood pressure and hair loss a common side effect of post-transplant medications.

Ratner gave him a prescription for a topical solution minoxidil. It also controlled my blood pressure. A year later, Brian had recovered enough to undergo the pancreas transplant. And at the time, in , he was one of the first patients to receive this pioneering surgery. He started seeing a nutritionist, changed his diet and began to exercise.