Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLife Without a PancreasAfter RemovalLifestyle ChangesSurgical Techniques
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Life Without a Pancreas
After Removal
Lifestyle Changes
Surgical Techniques
The pancreas is an organ behind the stomach and near the spleen.It performs both exocrine and endocrine functions.The exocrine cells release digestive enzymes to assist with breaking down food. The endocrine cells release insulin and glucagon, two hormones that help regulate blood sugar in the body.
Despite the pancreas being responsible for multiple functions, there are circumstances in which removing part or all of the pancreas is necessary. Surgical techniques have advanced significantly, and mortality rates in the immediate postoperative period have declined from between 30% and 50% to less than 2%.
The Good Brigade / Getty Images
Life Without a Pancreas Requires Ongoing Treatment
Surgical removal of the pancreas, referred to as apancreatectomy, is a potential consideration for people with chronic pancreatitis andpancreatic cancer.
It is possible to live without a pancreas. However, losing insulin, glucagon, and digestive enzyme production requires ongoing treatment.
With Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitisoccurs due to inflammation of the pancreas and is often a progressive condition. This persistent inflammation can be genetically linked, it can be a result of chronic alcohol consumption, or it can be due to an autoimmune disease processes.
Pancreas surgery might be a treatment option when the pancreas is inflamed, causing the ducts outside the pancreas to become blocked or parts of the pancreas to become damaged or infected.
With Pancreatic Cancer
The two main types of pancreatic cancer are:
Treatment for pancreatic cancer involves surgery to remove part or all of the pancreas in addition to radiation and chemotherapy. Some oncologists (cancer doctors) use radiation and chemotherapy before surgery to shrink tumors and afterward to eradicate any remaining cancer cells.
With Diabetes
It is common for a person who has undergone a pancreatectomy to develop diabetes because of loss of the insulin and glucagon hormone-producing cells in the pancreas.
General considerations for managing diabetes include:
Mimicking Organ Function After Removal
Medical researchers are investigating new procedures and technology to develop options for people without a pancreas. A couple of significant breakthroughs available include islet autotransplantation and artificial pancreas.
Islet autotransplantationinvolves transplanting islet cells (the specific pancreatic cells that release insulin and glucagon) from a donor into a person who has undergone a total pancreatectomy.
Studies have shown that people who have received islet autotransplantations experience excellent metabolic benefits, with only about one-third requiring continued insulin supplementation after surgery.
An artificial pancreas is a system with three distinct components that assist with monitoring blood glucose levels, calculating the amount of insulin needed based on the monitoring results, and then delivering the calculated dosage of insulin to help manage blood glucose levels.
The artificial pancreas is external to the body. Two small probes are inserted into the abdomen or flanks, one to monitor blood glucose levels and the other to administer the calculated insulin dose. The probes are attached to a pump or smartphone worn outside the body.
Lifestyle Changes and Adjustments
A pancreatectomy is a significant surgery that often requires several weeks or even a few months to fully recover.Surgical advances have allowed many pancreatectomy procedures to be performed through minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques. With the advent of these advances, even after a complex pancreatectomy, it is possible to go home within four to seven days.
Additional lifestyle modifications depend on the type of pancreatectomy performed and the reason for the pancreatectomy.
Pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer might involve removing part or all of the pancreas. Lifestyle modifications following pancreatectomy, in this case, might include:
Pancreatectomy due to pancreatitis is usually more localized. Potential lifestyle changes might include:
Pancreatic surgery is complex and technical. Your healthcare team will discuss the risks and benefits before surgery and work to preserve as much of the pancreas as possible during the procedure.
Pancreatic surgery techniques include:
In some cases, healthcare providers will recommend palliative surgery for pancreatic cancer that has spread outside of the pancreas. The goal is to relieve symptoms, but it is not intended to be curative.Specific reasons for palliative removal of the pancreas include:
Effects on Survival
In the postsurgical period, alert your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms, as they could lead to complications:
If pancreatic surgery is performed due to complications of chronic pancreatitis, five-year relative survival rates are around 81%, and 10-year survival rates are around 63%.
Pancreatectomy due to pancreatic cancer has an overall relative five-year survival rate of 13%.
Below is a table providing relative survival rates for pancreatic cancer based on the spread of the cancer.
Summary
It is possible to live without a pancreas, and recovery from pancreatectomy often takes weeks to months and requires ongoing treatment.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cancer Center Treatments of America.Pancreatectomy.National Library of Medicine.Pancreas.Axentiev A, Shmelev A, Cunningham SC.Predictors of in-hospital mortality following pancreatectomy.Cureus. 2023;15(9):e45830. doi:10.7759/cureus.45830National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for pancreatitis.American Cancer Society.What is pancreatic cancer?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Living with diabetes.Rickels MR, Robertson RP.Pancreatic islet transplantation in humans: recent progress and future directions.Endocrine Reviews. 2019;40(2):631-668. doi.org/10.1210/er.2018-00154Ludwig S, Distler M, Schubert U, et al.Quality of life and metabolic outcomes after total pancreatectomy and simultaneous islet autotransplantation.Commun Med. 2022;2(1):1-7.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Artificial pancreas.National Library of Medicine.Chronic pancreatitis.American Cancer Society.Surgery for pancreatic cancer.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cancer Center Treatments of America.Pancreatectomy.National Library of Medicine.Pancreas.Axentiev A, Shmelev A, Cunningham SC.Predictors of in-hospital mortality following pancreatectomy.Cureus. 2023;15(9):e45830. doi:10.7759/cureus.45830National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for pancreatitis.American Cancer Society.What is pancreatic cancer?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Living with diabetes.Rickels MR, Robertson RP.Pancreatic islet transplantation in humans: recent progress and future directions.Endocrine Reviews. 2019;40(2):631-668. doi.org/10.1210/er.2018-00154Ludwig S, Distler M, Schubert U, et al.Quality of life and metabolic outcomes after total pancreatectomy and simultaneous islet autotransplantation.Commun Med. 2022;2(1):1-7.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Artificial pancreas.National Library of Medicine.Chronic pancreatitis.American Cancer Society.Surgery for pancreatic cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cancer Center Treatments of America.Pancreatectomy.National Library of Medicine.Pancreas.Axentiev A, Shmelev A, Cunningham SC.Predictors of in-hospital mortality following pancreatectomy.Cureus. 2023;15(9):e45830. doi:10.7759/cureus.45830National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for pancreatitis.American Cancer Society.What is pancreatic cancer?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Living with diabetes.Rickels MR, Robertson RP.Pancreatic islet transplantation in humans: recent progress and future directions.Endocrine Reviews. 2019;40(2):631-668. doi.org/10.1210/er.2018-00154Ludwig S, Distler M, Schubert U, et al.Quality of life and metabolic outcomes after total pancreatectomy and simultaneous islet autotransplantation.Commun Med. 2022;2(1):1-7.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Artificial pancreas.National Library of Medicine.Chronic pancreatitis.American Cancer Society.Surgery for pancreatic cancer.
Cancer Center Treatments of America.Pancreatectomy.
National Library of Medicine.Pancreas.
Axentiev A, Shmelev A, Cunningham SC.Predictors of in-hospital mortality following pancreatectomy.Cureus. 2023;15(9):e45830. doi:10.7759/cureus.45830
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for pancreatitis.
American Cancer Society.What is pancreatic cancer?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Living with diabetes.
Rickels MR, Robertson RP.Pancreatic islet transplantation in humans: recent progress and future directions.Endocrine Reviews. 2019;40(2):631-668. doi.org/10.1210/er.2018-00154
Ludwig S, Distler M, Schubert U, et al.Quality of life and metabolic outcomes after total pancreatectomy and simultaneous islet autotransplantation.Commun Med. 2022;2(1):1-7.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Artificial pancreas.
National Library of Medicine.Chronic pancreatitis.
American Cancer Society.Surgery for pancreatic cancer.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
