pancreatectomy/islet cell transfer--responses from Dr. Sutherland)

[Guest guest]

For anyone interested in this surgery, this is a response we received from

Dr. Sutherland about it back in Feb. He answered a few questions we had

about the surgery.

Lorrie

>- Original Message -----

>

> To: " Lorrie " lorichka2001@...>; " Ann Marie Papas "

> papas001@...>; " Sutherland, MD "

> dsuther@...>

> > Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 9:55 PM

> Subject: Re: QUESTIONS ON PANCREAS REMOVAL

>

>

> >

> >

> > > ----------

> > > From: DERS[sMTP:DSUTHER@...]

> > > Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 9:55:53 PM

> > > To: Lorrie ; Ann Marie Papas; Sutherland, MD

> > > Cc: LORRIE CAMPBELL

> > > Subject: Re: QUESTIONS ON PANCREAS REMOVAL

> > > Auto forwarded by a Rule

> > >

> > Hi Ms ,

> > I will answer the questions next to the q below. Hope this helps

> > ders

> >

> > At 02:49 PM 2/14/02 -0800, Lorrie wrote:

> > >Dr. Sutherland and Ann Marie,

> > >

> > >RE: P. (DX: chronic pancreatitis)

> > >

> > > >

> > >Dr. Schollaert suggested to get the following from you

> > >and/or Dr. Sutherland (regarding the removal of the

> > >pancreas and transfer of the islet cells to the

> > >liver):

> > >

> > >1. the percentage of successes and failures ABOUT 50% OF PATIENTS

REMAIN

> > INSULIN INDEPENDENT AFTER THE ISLET TRANSPLANT, THAT IS, WE RECOVER

ENOUGH

> > ISLETS TO ACHIEVE THIS. THE OTHER HALF ARE DIABETIC. MOST ARE EASY TO

> > CONTROL, ESPECIALLY IF THEY GOT SOME ISLETS. IF THEY GET HARDLY ANY

> ISLETS,

> > THEY WILL BE LIKE OTHER TYPE 1 DIABETICS AND COULD BE BRITTLE. SOME

HAVE

> > HAD A PANCREAS TRANSPLANT AT A LATER DATE TO CORRECT THE CONDITION.

> > THE ISLET SUCCESS RATE IS HIGHER IN THOSE WITH NO PREVIOUS PANCREAS

> > SURGERY, AND LESS IN THOSE WHO HAVE HAD PREVIOUS SURGERY.

> >

> > >

> > >2. IF the islet cell transpant fails and the patient

> > >is diabetic, how hard has it been to control their

> > >diabetes? SEE ABOVE. SOME ARE BRITTLE, MOST ARE NOT. THE ONES WHO ARE

> > DIABETIC NEARLY ALWAYS STATE IT IS BETTER TO HAVE DIABETES THAN

> PANCREATITIS

> > >

> > >3. The number of this type of surgery actually

> > >performed by Dr. Sutherland. OVER 100.

> > >

> > >4. Have any patients with chronic pancreatitis who've

> > >had this surgery STILL HAD THE PAIN AFTER THE REMOVAL

> > >OF THE PANCREAS? (One pain doctor Jim saw recently in

> > >Pittsburgh--Dr. Glick-- mentioned that he might

> > >have the pancreas removed and STILL have the pain

> > >there--like phantom pain. Is this a possibility?YES, SOME STILL HAVE

> > PAIN. ABOUT 70% HAVE THE PAIN TOTALLY GO AWAY, ABOUT 25% STILL HAVE A

PAIN

> > SYNDROME BUT IT IS IMPROVED, ABOUT 5% ARE NO BETTER AND MAY HAVE PHANTOM

> PAIN

> > >

> > >5. How long of a hospital stay is required there and

> > >what's the general overall recovery time? IT RANGES FROM1 WEEK TO ONE

> > MONTH. AVERAGE IS ABOUT 2 WEEKS.

> > >

> > >6. Any fatalities from this surgery? THERE ARE 2 DEATHS IN THE SERIES

> > DATING BACK TO THE 1970s, NONE IN RECENT YEARS.

> > >Needless to say, we're REALLY looking forward to this

> > >surgery to get rid of this pain and let him be able to

> > >function again. nOTHING ELSE IS WORKING--NOT EVEN THE

> > >PAIN MEDS.

> > THIS IS GENERALLY THE CASE, YOU HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE NOTHING

HELPS.

> > >

> > >

> > >Thanks,

> > >Lorrie

> > >

> > >__________________________________________________

> > >