Whole-organ versus islet pancreatic transplantation

The goals of pancreatic transplantation are to improve the quality of life for the diabetic patient, reverse the metabolic abnormalities of diabetes, and prevent the dreaded secondary complications. Although transplantation of the whole pancreas is the only therapy that reliably achieves euglycemia, the complications associated with this procedure and the need for immunosuppression make it undesirable except to a select subpopulation of type I diabetic patients. Islet cell transplantation is the exciting alternative; however, insulin independence has been achieved in only 10% to 20% of patients. Although advances in technology could make islet transplantation the treatment of choice for type I diabetic patients, islet transplantation currently remains an experimental procedure. Diabetes is not commonly considered a surgical disease, but surgeons have made major contributions to its treatment and must remain active in the development of new treatment modalities for this debilitating disease.