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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staff
Complications of the procedure
Pancreas transplant surgery carries a risk of significant complications, including:
- Blood clots
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Excess sugar in your blood (hyperglycemia)
- Failure of the donated pancreas
- Rejection of the donated pancreas
Anti-rejection medication side effects
After a pancreas transplant you'll take medications for the rest of your life to help prevent your body from rejecting the donor pancreas. These medications can cause a variety of side effects, including:
- Bone thinning
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Skin sensitivity
- Puffiness
- Weight gain
- Swollen gums
- Acne
- Excessive hair growth
References
- Humar A, et al. Transplantation. In: Brunicardi FC, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=799511. Accessed June 24, 2009.
- Robertson RP. Patient selection for and immunologic issues related to kidney-pancreas transplantation in diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- Pancreas Kaplan-Meier graft survival rates for transplants performed 1997-2004, by diagnosis. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/latestData/rptStrat.asp. Accessed July 5, 2009.
- Facts about pancreas transplants. American Society of Transplantation. http://www.a-s-t.org/files/pdf/patient_education/english/AST-EdBroPANCREAS-ENG.pdf. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- American Diabetes Association position statement: Pancreas and islet transplantation in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2006;29:935.
- Getting a kidney-pancreas transplant. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=159. Accessed June 24, 2009.
- Robertson RP. Benefits and complications associated with kidney-pancreas transplantation in diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- Larson-Wadd K, et al. Pancreas and islet cell transplantation. Anesthesiology Clinics of North America. 2004;22:663.
- Coping with the physical side effects of anti-rejection medications. American Society of Transplantation. http://www.healthytransplant.com/index.php?q=quality_of_life/coping_with_the_physical_side_effect_of_anti-rejection_medications. Accessed July 5, 2009.
- Punch JD. Organ transplantation. In: Doherty GM, et al. Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2066708. Accessed June 24, 2009.
- Robertson RP. Pancreas and islet transplantation in diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- OPTN/SRTR annual report: Adjusted graft survival by year of transplant at 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years, kidney-pancreas transplants — pancreas graft. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. http://www.ustransplant.org/annual_reports/current/809b_kp.htm. Accessed July 7, 2009.
- OPTN/SRTR annual report: Adjusted graft survival by year of transplant at 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years, pancreas after kidney (PAK) transplants. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. http://www.ustransplant.org/annual_reports/current/709_pak.htm. Accessed July 7, 2009.
- OPTN/SRTR annual report: Adjusted graft survival by year of transplant at 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years, pancreas transplant alone (PTA) transplants. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. http://www.ustransplant.org/annual_reports/current/609_pta.htm. Accessed July 7, 2009.
