What To Expect From A Pancreas Transplant

Risks Of The Procedure

A pancreatic transplant is no exception to the standard of surgical procedure-related risks a patient should be aware of before undergoing this surgery. Uncommon but significant complications can occur with a pancreatic transplant, including the development of blood clots, excessive bleeding, development of infection, high blood glucose or other metabolic issues, frequent urinary tract infections, leakage of urine, failure of the donor pancreas, and rejection of the donor pancreas. Some risks come along with the medications that must be taken for life following the transplant to prevent the recipient's body from rejecting the donor pancreas. Osteoporosis or bone thinning, frequent nausea, diarrhea, sensitivity to sunlight, frequent vomiting, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are side effects that may occur with anti-rejection medications. More possible side effects include excessive loss of hair, swollen gums, puffiness, excessive growth of hair, frequent acne breakouts, and weight gain.

Get the details on the recovery process next.