Addressing the debilitating, chronic pain of pancreatitis
People with chronic, debilitating pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) regularly rely on us for solutions, such as a pancreatectomy (removal of the pancreas). Although chronic pancreatitis is rare in children, we specialize in treating this condition, which can disrupt a child's life.
You will be in safe, experienced hands at University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital. One of the world's largest pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant programs, in 1977, University of Minnesota Physicians performed the first total pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant (TP-IAT) in the world.
- Since then, our surgeons have performed nearly 400 TP-IATs—more than three times the number completed at any other center.
- About one in eight of these procedures has been performed on children ages 5 to 18.
How TP-IAT works
Simply stated, the surgeon removes the pancreas and specially trained technicians separate out the islets. Then the surgeon injects the islets into the patient's liver to produce insulin to manage blood sugar levels. If necessary, the patient can take supplemental insulin injections. Because the islets are the patient's own cells, there is no risk of rejection.
Pain relief is the most significant aspect of TP-IAT. Nearly all patients (95 percent) report that their pain is gone or greatly diminished after the surgery. This procedure can also help prevent diabetes, which is a bonus that patients appreciate.
Pediatric Pancreatectomy and Islet Auto-Transplant Program fact sheet (PDF).
For a consultation, contact:
Marie Cook, Care Coordinator
1-800-329-5465, options 5-4-1
612-273-0489
mcook1@fairview.org
Meet our care team
Ped Total Pancreatectomy/Islet AutoTransplant Med
Ped Total Pancreatectomy/Islet AutoTransplant Surg
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