Pancreas

Pancreas

The pancreas can remain viable for up to 12 hours outside the body.

-UNOS

The pancreas is about five inches long and looks like a comma in shape. It is located behind the stomach, with its head fitting into the curve of the duodenum and its tail ending near the spleen under the left diaphragm.

The pancreas has two different functions that assist in the processing of food. It produces strong enzymes that help break down fat, protein and carbohydrates in food during digestion. It also produces two hormones, insulin and glucagon, which help regulate blood sugar.

Because of it's role in regulating blood sugar levels, one of the major disorders affecting the pancreas is diabetes mellitus. Patients with Type 1 diabetes who are likely to develop vision, kidney or nerve problems are considered for a pancreatic transplant, according to the National Pancreas Foundation. Many people with pancreas failure also experience renal failure, so a kidney is often transplanted with the pancreas, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

As of April, 2003, 1,414 people in the United States were waiting for a pancreas transplant and 2,423 people were waiting for a simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplant, according to OPTN. The first simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplant was performed in 1966. The first isolated pancreas transplant was not performed until two years later.

In 2002, 545 deceased donor pancreas transplants and 1 living donor pancreas transplants were performed, according to OPTN. In 2002, 905 deceased donor simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplants were performed, up from 886 in 2001. In 2001, 2 living donor kidney/pancreas transplants were performed, down from 6 in 2000.

A pancreatic transplant may involve the whole pancreas or a segment of it. A segmental transplant is usually performed when a living donor is involved. Although the pancreas does not regenerate itself, donors rarely have problems because of reduced function, according to United Network for Organ Sharing.

Since 1988, there have been 22 living donor pancreas transplants. Since 1994, there have been another 42 living donor simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplants, according to OPTN data.

Pancreatic transplants are sometimes performed to improve quality of life, not necessarily to save a life. The transplant is an alternative to insulin and dialysis treatment. Although it may seem like an easy way to "cure" diabetes, it is not, mostly because of the extensive time needed for evaluation and long waiting periods, which can vary from one to three years, according to the University of Southern California Pancreas Transplant Program.