The Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney transplant has served a life-saving dual purpose by not only rendering the patient free from dialysis, but effectively curing his diabetes, which, is by far the single most important risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and vascular disease, often termed as a silent killer.
MGM Healthcare`s Centre for Abdominal Organ Transplant team under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Anil. Vaidya, Director & Senior Consultant, Multi-Visceral Transplant Programme, MGM Healthcare were instrumental in helping this patient with the strong support of an extremely mature organ donation program developed by the Tamil Nadu State Transplant Authority (TRANSTAN).
Mr. Santhosh (Name Changed), a 34-year-old IT employee from Mumbai, had type 1 diabetes since childhood (juvenile diabetes), and was on dialysis for several years, retinal diabetic neuropathy (the loss of nerve cells in the retina), and a dreaded complication of. diabetes called hypoglycemic unawareness (when the patient loses the capacity to feel the onset of dangerously low sugars).
The patient underwent a 7-hour procedure led by Prof. Dr. Anil Vaidya, Dr. Senthil M, Dr. Thiagarajan Srinivasan, Dr. Karthik Mathivanan, Dr. Dinesh Babu, and Dr. Nivash Chandrasekhar. The organs had primary function and the patient was off insulin and dialysis immediately.
The complex postoperative course was managed by a special intensivist team led by Dr. Dinesh Babu along with Dr. Vikram Sagar, Senior Consultant, Nephrology who has trained in the UK and dedicated majority of his practice to taking care of patients with renal failure and diabetes.
The most serious complication of hypoglycemia unawareness is becoming unconscious unexpectedly. Recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia may potentially contribute to long-term issues with brain and heart function. The addition of a Pancreas does increase the length of the operation but, in the long run contributes to the life time of the patient and the kidney that is transplanted.
Speaking about the condition Prof. Dr. Anil Vaidya, at MGM Healthcare, said, "The benefit of a pancreas transplant is that it allows the body to once again manufacture and utilize insulin. This
implies that the patient will no longer require regular blood sugar testing or insulin injections to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Better glucose control can be obtained by patients who have a successful pancreas transplant than with any other type of diabetes treatment to date. The serious complications of type 1 diabetes, such as nerve damage, blindness, and stroke, can be avoided with a functioning pancreas. Complications that are already present will not worsen, and some may even reverse."
He further added, "Patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus with end stage renal diseasase, selected type 2 diabetes mellitus, failure of insulin therapy for diabetes management, diabetes related organ damage, diabetes related metabolic complications like ketoacidosis, and hypoglycemic unawareness will benefit from a pancreas transplant."
The Center for Abdominal Organ Transplant at MGM Healthcare is a cohesive group of surgeons, physicians, intensivists, anesthetists, Interventional Radiology, well trained nursing, rehabilitation and nutrition experts. This level of integration of various services allows the Center to cater for patient`s needs as required with diligence, transparency, compassion and integrity. The Center is equipped to address all types of transplants including Liver, Kidney, Pancreas, Intestines and Multi-visceral as well as complex venous access problems for patients on dialysis.
Thus, MGM Healthcare provides a robust clinical program abdominal. organ transplantation with a focus on pancreatic, intestinal, and multi-visceral transplant under the leadership of Dr. Anil Vaidya, who is a world authority in all facets of pancreatic, intestinal, and multi-visceral transplant. This team has performed the highest number of pancreas transplant in India with 98% success rate. All the patients who have undergone pancreas transplant have 95% chance of living free-of insulin for next five years` post-surgery.
The team at MGM Healthcare use a unique induction immunosuppressive treatment that is not only free to the patient but has major benefits against rejection, allows for patients not to be on steroids and has an excellent safety profile against infections. This medication has been pioneered in pancreatic, kidney and intestinal transplantation by Prof. Dr. Anil Vaidya and is available only at MGM Healthcare.