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Pancreatectomy and Islet Auto-Transplant

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If you or someone you love has chronic debilitating pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), you understand what an impact it can have on day-to-day life. Perhaps you've had treatment but the pain just hasn't gone away. That doesn't need to be the end of the road. At University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, we offer hope that you can regain your quality of life. 

Together with the Schulze Diabetes Institute at the University of Minnesota, the medical center is home to the world's largest pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant (TP-IAT) program. For many people, a TP-IAT can mean the end of pain and the start of getting life back on track. 

During a pancreatectomy, a surgeon removes the patient's pancreas. This relieves the pain that the patient has been experiencing. Usually without a pancreas, the patient will develop diabetes. That's because islet cells in the pancreas make insulin, which control blood sugar (glucose). However, surgeons at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, often perform an islet auto-transplant along with the pancreatectomy. During this process, technicians in the laboratory isolate islet cells from the pancreas that has been removed. The surgeon then puts these cells back into the patient's body where they can continue to produce insulin. This step can help prevent the patient from developing diabetes.

Specialists from University of Minnesota Physicians performed the first pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant (TP-IAT) in the world in 1977. Since then, our surgeons have performed more than 400 such procedures. Nearly one in 10 of these procedures have been performed in children under the age of 18. To read more about our program and services, please see our TP-IAT fact sheet.

For a consultation, contact:

Louise Berry, Care Coordinator
1-800-328-5465, options 5-5-1
612-625-6650
kberry1@fairview.org
Learn more about pediatric total pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant at University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital.

Doctors & Providers

Pancreatectomy and Islet Auto-Transplant Medicine

Pancreatectomy and Islet Auto-Transplant Surgery

Our Providers Make the Difference
Fairview features nearly 4,000 providers practicing at over 200 locations throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and beyond. Fairview Clinics, University of Minnesota Physicians and our independent partner clinics provide an exceptional care experience, while lowering the overall costs of health care.

Locations by city:

Minneapolis

Our Providers Make the Difference
Fairview features nearly 4,000 providers practicing at over 200 locations throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and beyond. Fairview Clinics, University of Minnesota Physicians and our independent partner clinics provide an exceptional care experience, while lowering the overall costs of health care.

Patient Stories

Angie and Beth

Angie shares her experience with the illness that lead to her to University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, to have a Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Auto-Transplant. Beth explains what it was like from a mother's point of view.


 

Isaac and Tasia

Isaac's pancreatitis was getting so bad, he knew he had to do something about it. So he made plans to travel from Colorado to University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, to find out if he was a candidate for a Total Pancreatectomy and Auto Islet-Transplant. But he didn't come alone. His young daughter, Tasia, joined him. She was showing signs that she, too, had hereditary disease. Listen to the Gallagos' story.
 

Jackie

Jackie talks about her experience with chronic pancreatitis and her decision to choose the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, and Dr. Sutherland to have her surgery.

 

Kevin

Kevin discusses his experience with hereditary pancreatitis, his decision to undergo islet auto-transplant surgery, and how the success of his surgery "gave him his life back."

 

Ginnie

Ginnie describes her experience with a gallbladder attack and the simultaneous development of acute pancreatitis and then a chronic condition. She discusses how Dr. Sutherland informed her what to expect before, during, and after her islet auto-transplant surgery.