Pancreas Transplants

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

There are different circumstances.

Edmonton procedure: To transplant islets only, if you don't have Pancreatitis

or you have already had a Total Pancreatectomy.

Incisional Surgical Procedure: To do a Total Pancreatectomy alone or with

living or donor islet transplant or a full or partial pancreas organ

transplant, if you have Chronic Pancreatitis with or without Diabetes.

I found several articles explaining this procedure. And, I found out that

they have been doing living donor pancreas transplants for a long time. They

only perfected the Laparoscopic procedure in the last year or two. Even

though the islets only make up 2% of the pancreas, there are sufficient

islets to support two people. Just like you can live with one kidney. I am,

just blown away that I found this by accident.

Here are good sites. If anyone has trouble navigating and locating the

specific articles, let me know. There are too many for me to chose to send

you now.

<A

HREF= " http://www.diabetes.org.uk/islets/trans/edmonton.htm " >http://www.diabetes.\

org.uk/islets/trans/edmonton.htm</A>

<A HREF= " http://www.diabetesportal.com " >http://www.diabetesportal.com</A>

<A

HREF= " http://www.iptr.umn.edu/geninformation.htm " >http://www.iptr.umn.edu/geninf\

ormation.htm</A>

I wrote the International Pancreas Registry. I am now questioning if I am

confused about a person being able to donate islet cells laproscopically vs a

partial pancreas via surgery.

Either way, I am still so hopeful.

Karyn , RN

Founder / Executive Director

http://www.pancassociation.org

PAI Home Office: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA