History of Pancreas Transplantation

The first pancreas transplant was performed in 1966, yet pancreas transplantation has only become an accepted treatment for carefully selected Type I diabetes patients within the past ten years. As of December 1993, more than 5,000 pancreas transplants had been performed worldwide. Almost three-fourths of these transplants were performed in conjunction with kidney transplants (combined kidney-pancreas transplant) for patients with both diabetes and kidney failure. For these patients, the combined kidney/pancreas procedure is superior to such treatment options as continued insulin therapy, dialysis, or kidney transplantation alone.

Are there different types of pancreas transplants?

Throughout the years, several types of pancreas transplants have been performed. The first pancreas transplant (1966) involved transplanting only a portion of the organ. The most successful technique today — the one used at University Hospital — involves transplanting the entire pancreas, and most are combined with kidney transplants.

In fall 1997, University Hospital’s Transplant Team performed the first isolated pancreas transplant and New York State’s first kidney transplant combined with the transplantation of islets, the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. At University Hospital, research continues to develop other techniques for the treatment of diabetes.

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