What does the Pancreas do?

The pancreas is a gland which performs two major functions: (1) It releases pancreatic juice containing enzymes and bicarbonate into the first portion of the small intestine, called the duodenum, to assist in the digestion of food; and (2) It releases insulin into the bloodstream to keep the blood sugar within the normal range.

As a result of diabetes, the islet cells of the pancreas which make insulin have been destroyed, and the pancreas does not release enough insulin to maintain a normal blood sugar.

Where is the Pancreas normally located in the body?

The pancreas is approximately 6-8 inches long and 2-3 inches wide and is located in the middle of the back of the upper abdomen, right in front of the spinal column. The larger end of the pancreas, called the head, is attached to the duodenum. A channel called the pancreatic duct runs along the entire length of the gland and empties pancreatic juice into the duodenum. The transplant patients receive consists of the entire pancreas plus approximately 4 inches of duodenum containing the area into which the pancreatic duct empties.

How many transplants are being done now?

The first pancreas transplant was performed in 1966 at the University of Minnesota. By the end of 2000, over 16,000 pancreas transplants had been performed at more than 200 institutions around the world.

In the United States, over 1000 transplants have been performed annually since 1995 (1,346 cases in the year 2000), with over 130 centers currently offering the procedure.

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