Types of pancreas transplant

What is it?

A combined pancreas and kidney transplantation. This is the most common type of pancreas transplant.

Who is it suitable for?

Patients with insulin-treated diabetes and kidney failure.

How long is surgery?

4-8 hours.

Pros

• A successful SPK transplant allows patients to be free of both dialysis and insulin injections
• One operation for two conditions (diabetes, kidney disease)

Cons

• Long, complex surgery
• Increased risk of early complications due to the complex surgery
• Unplanned (urgent) surgery
• Only patients who are fit enough will be considered for an SPK transplant

Average waiting times

1 year.

Average transplant outcomes

• 15-20 years kidney transplant function
• 10-15 years pancreas transplant function

You may need dialysis while you wait for an SPK transplant

Many patients with insulin-treated diabetes and kidney failure will need dialysis while waiting for a transplant. A lot of patients find life on dialysis difficult.

Most patients on dialysis need to limit how much they drink, and have to avoid certain foods. Energy levels may be low, and dialysis can be very time-consuming. Although dialysis is lifesaving, being on dialysis for many years puts a strain on your heart, and can cause thickening of the arteries.

Patients who need dialysis have higher risks of early death than people without kidney disease. This is mainly due to a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and serious infections. A successful working kidney transplant will mean that you no longer need dialysis.

Overall, patients who receive a kidney transplant (with or without a pancreas transplant) live longer than those who stay on dialysis, and also have a better quality of life.

Find out more about dialysis

What is it?

A pancreas transplant on its own.

Who is it suitable for?

Patients with poorly controlled insulin-treated diabetes without kidney disease.

How long is surgery?

2-4 hours.

Pros

A successful PTA transplant leads to freedom from insulin injections, with better blood sugar control than with insulin or islet transplantation.

Cons

Requires major surgery with risks of early complications.

Average waiting times

1 year.

Average transplant outcomes

5-7 years pancreas transplant function.

What is it?

A pancreas transplant that takes place after a kidney transplant. It’s usually done around a year later.

This is an option for patients who have a living kidney donor, but still wish to be free of insulin injections. These patients have the kidney transplant with their living donor, then wait for a deceased donor for a pancreas.

Sometimes, patients have a kidney transplant from a deceased kidney donor and then wish to have a pancreas transplant. This is still a PAK transplant.

Who is it suitable for?

Patients with insulin-treated diabetes who have already had a kidney transplant from a living or deceased donor.

How long is surgery?

2-4 hours.

Pros

• Less complex surgery than a Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney (SPK) transplant (2-4 hours)
• If successful, leads to freedom from insulin injections

Cons

• Unplanned (urgent) surgery
• The pancreas transplant tends not to work for as long as a pancreas transplanted as an SPK transplant
• Two separate transplants

Average waiting times

1 year.

Average transplant outcomes

5-6 years pancreas transplant function.

What is it?

This is when a kidney from a deceased donor is transplanted, and the insulin-producing cells (islets) of a pancreas from a same deceased donor are separated from the rest of the pancreas tissue. The islets are injected into the veins within your liver through a narrow tube a short time after the kidney transplant is completed. 

Who is it suitable for?

Patients with insulin-treated diabetes and kidney failure.

How long is surgery?

The kidney transplant surgery usually takes 2-4 hours, and the islet transplant takes about an hour.

Pros

• Less complex surgery than a Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney (SPK) transplant
• One stay in hospital to treat two conditions (diabetes, kidney disease)

Cons

• Unplanned (urgent) surgery
• Less likely to lead to freedom from insulin injections than pancreas transplantation
• Often needs repeated islet transplants to get the full effect

Average waiting times

1 year.

Average transplant outcomes

• 15-20 years kidney transplant function
• 5-7 years islet cells function 

What is it? 

A islet transplant that takes place after a kidney transplant.

Who is it suitable for?

Patients with insulin-treated diabetes who have already had a kidney transplant from a living or deceased donor.

Pros

• If successful, leads to better blood sugar control than with insulin injections alone
• Less complex surgery than pancreas transplantation (one hour) with lower early risks

Cons

• Less likely to lead to freedom from insulin injections than pancreas transplantation alone
• Often needs repeated islet transplants to get the full effect

Average waiting times

1 year.

Average transplant outcome

5-7 year islet cells function.

What is it?

This is where the insulin-producing cells (islets) of a donated pancreas are separated from the rest of the pancreas tissue. The islets are placed into the veins within your liver through a narrow tube.

Who is it suitable for?

Patients with poorly controlled insulin-treated diabetes without kidney disease.

How long is the surgery?

1 hour.

Pros

• If successful, leads to better blood sugar control than with insulin injections alone
• Less complex surgery than pancreas transplantation (one hour) with lower early risks

Cons

• Less likely to lead to freedom from insulin injections than pancreas transplantation alone
• Often needs repeated islet transplants to get the full effect

Average waiting times

1 year.

Average transplant outcomes

5-7 years islet cells function.

What is it?

A kidney transplant from a living donor.

Who is it suitable for?

Patients with kidney failure with or without diabetes.

How long is surgery?

2-4 hours.

Pros

• If a suitable living donor is found, can often be arranged fairly quickly
• Less complex surgery than a Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney (SPK) transplant
• Planned (elective) surgery

Cons

• Need to find a suitable living donor
• Will still need insulin to treat diabetes

Average waiting times

2-4 months.

Average transplant outcomes

15-20 years kidney function.

What is it?

A kidney transplant from a deceased donor.

Who is it suitable for?

Patients with kidney failure with or without diabetes.

How long is surgery?

2-4 hours.

Pros

Less complex surgery than a Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney (SPK) transplant.

Cons

• Unplanned (urgent) surgery
• Will still need insulin to treat diabetes 

Average waiting times

2-3 years.

Average transplant outcomes

10-15 years kidney transplant function.