I have been found to be a candidate for pancreas transplantation. What next?

Next comes the wait for a donor pancreas or a donor pancreas and kidney. The length of time it will take to find suitable organs cannot be calculated. Donor organs are obtained from people who have suffered irreversible brain injuries, resulting in brain death. Although such injuries occur in the United States every day, not all potential organ donors have the same blood type or tissue type as you. Also, not all of these people have organs suitable for donation.

Your name, blood group, and tissue type will be registered with the national waiting list maintained by the United Network of Organ Sharing. This organization arranges for the equitable distribution of organs obtained throughout the United States. The allocation is dependent on several factors. These are:

• Blood type of donor and recipient.
• Tissue matching between donor and recipient.
• Presence of antibodies in the recipient's blood that could harm the new organ.
• The length of time the recipient has been on the waiting list.
  

As you wait for a suitable donor to be found, Rush transplant specialists will work with your family physician to monitor you for signs of further complications and infections. Please keep in close contact with the transplant office, and notify us immediately if there are any changes in your health status. The clinical nurse coordinator will call you periodically to see how you are feeling.

Throughout this waiting period, feel free to call us with any additional questions you have regarding transplantation and how it will affect your life-style.

We will answer all of your questions to the best of our ability.