A pancreas transplant is a major surgical procedure performed to replace a diseased pancreas with a healthy donor organ. The primary goal is to restore the body’s ability to produce insulin naturally, normalizing blood glucose levels. This function significantly improves the quality of life for individuals with severe, complicated forms of diabetes. This article examines the current statistics, surgical types, and long-term success rates of these procedures in the United States.
Current Annual Volume and Historical Trends
The total number of pancreas transplants performed annually in the United States has remained relatively stable in recent years, hovering near 900 procedures. In 2023, 915 transplants were performed, a minor change from the 918 procedures recorded in 2022. This consistent volume contrasts with the overall trend observed over the past decade. Between 2013 and 2023, the total number of pancreas transplants experienced an approximate 10% decline. This decrease is attributed to improvements in diabetes management, such as sophisticated insulin pumps, which have reduced the number of patients progressing to the most severe stage of the disease.
Classifying Pancreas Transplant Procedures
Pancreas transplants are categorized into three main surgical types. The most common is the Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney (SPK) transplant, where both organs are implanted from the same deceased donor during a single operation. SPK procedures constitute the vast majority of all pancreas transplants performed in the U.S., making up approximately 85% of the total annual volume. The remaining procedures are classified as solitary transplants, involving the pancreas alone. These include Pancreas Transplant Alone (PTA) for recipients with normal kidney function, and Pancreas After Kidney (PAK) for recipients who have previously received a kidney transplant.
Primary Indications for Pancreas Transplantation
The primary indication for pancreas transplantation is the treatment of complications arising from Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). T1D is an autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Transplantation is typically reserved for T1D patients who have developed end-stage renal disease, which explains the prevalence of the SPK procedure. A functioning transplanted pancreas provides a continuous, automatic source of insulin, offering metabolic control and eliminating the risk of severe hypoglycemia. While T1D remains the primary indication, the proportion of pancreas recipients with Type 2 Diabetes has been increasing, accounting for 25.4% of recipients in 2023.
Patient and Graft Survival Statistics
The long-term success of pancreas transplantation is measured by patient survival and graft survival, which is the amount of time the transplanted organ continues to function. Outcomes are favorable, particularly for the simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplant. National data shows the five-year patient survival rate following an SPK transplant is approximately 90.7%. One-year pancreas graft survival rates for SPK procedures were 90.8% in 2022. Solitary transplants showed slightly lower one-year graft survival rates, with Pancreas Transplant Alone (PTA) at 87.5% and Pancreas After Kidney (PAK) at 84.4%.