What is Pancreas Transplant?
Pancreas transplant is a complex surgical procedure used to treat Type 1 diabetes mellitus, especially in patients with severe complications like kidney failure, hypoglycaemia unawareness, or poor glucose control despite optimal medical therapy. It offers a potential cure by replacing the diseased pancreas with a healthy donor pancreas, restoring natural insulin production and eliminating the need for insulin injections.
There are three main types of pancreas transplants:
- Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplant (SPK) – for patients with both diabetes and end-stage kidney disease.
- Pancreas After Kidney Transplant (PAK) – for patients who already had a kidney transplant.
- Pancreas Alone Transplant (PTA) – for patients with severe diabetic complications but normal kidney function.
The transplant is done under general anaesthesia and typically lasts 3–6 hours, depending on whether a kidney is also transplanted. It is followed by lifelong immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection and requires extensive post-operative care. The native pancreas is usually left intact.
This procedure is the only intervention that can normalize blood glucose and nearly cure Type 1 diabetes, improving quality of life, reducing diabetic complications, and extending survival.
Why Choose India for Pancreas Transplant?
India is an emerging center for pancreas transplantation, offering world-class care at a fraction of the cost compared to the US or UK. Leading Delhi-NCR and Tier 1 hospitals like Apollo Hospitals (Delhi), Fortis Memorial Research Institute (Gurgaon), Max Super Speciality Hospital (Saket), and Manipal Hospital (Dwarka) provide:
- Experienced transplant surgeons trained internationally and skilled in complex pancreas-kidney procedures.
- Comprehensive transplant units with dedicated pre-transplant evaluation, surgical, and post-op support.
- High-quality care infrastructure, including immunological labs, ICU care, and long-term follow-up programs.
- International patient services with visa assistance, Multilingual teams, and seamless care coordination.
Most importantly, India offers pancreas transplant surgery at a cost of USD 20,000–30,000, a significant saving over the USD 100,000+ cost in Western countries, without compromising on quality or safety.
ملخص التكلفة والمدة
متوسط التكلفة في الهند: USD 20,000 – 30,000
الإقامة في المستشفى مطلوبة: 2 – 4 weeks (may extend if combined with kidney)
Post-Treatment Stay in India 4 – 6 weeks (for follow-up, adjustment & recovery)