Harvesting the Islets after the Whipple

[Guest guest]

Carol,

You wrote, " I am asking because I have a 25% chance of coming out of

this as a diabetic. "

I wanted to stress to you the importance of doing whatever you can

do get someone to harvest the islet cells from the head of the

pancreas and transplant them into your liver. Then, you will more

than likely not be a diabetic after surgery. I know it doesn't seem

like a big deal, but it is a very serious big deal.

You are extremely fortunate to be having your Whipple at the

University of Illinois, Chicago. There is an active pancreas

transplant program at that hospital where they also do islet

transplants alone. It would behoove you to contact your surgeon or

simply contact the director or coordinators of this program and tell

them your situation. I wouldn't trust my surgeon to support the

harvesting of the islets following the Whipple. They don't follow

diabetes and don't think it is important. Their comment is more

likely going to be, " Most of your islets are housed in the tail.

I wouldn't worry about it " . I would say, " I am sure you wouldn't

worry about it, your pancreas isn't being removed from your body!! "

When I had my Distal Pancreatectomy, we asked about his possibility

and they said it was not an option. Today, the same surgeon says

that he encourages anyone having any little piece of their pancreas

removed to harvest the islet cells before dumping the removed organ

in the trash.

Here is the information

University of Illinois, Chicago

Department of Surgery

840 South Wood Street

Chicago, IL 60612-7322

Phone:

Fax:

Transplant Options

ITA Islet Transplants Alone

SPK Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney

PAK Pancreas After Kidney

PTA Pancreas Transplant Alone

Director(s)

Oberholzer, MD

Enrico Benedetti, MD

Pancreas Transplant Surgeon(s)

Enrico Benedetti, MD

Transplant Coordinator(s)

Ana Rubio, RN

Xenia , RN

Good Luck!

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org

Pancreatitis Association International