The Schulze Diabetes Institute at University of Minnesota is home to the world's largest pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant program. A pancreatectomy can be the answer for some people who have chronic debilitating pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas.

University of Minnesota Physicians performed the first pancreatectomy and islet auto transplant in the world in 1977. Since then, our surgeons have performed more than 300 such procedures. Nearly one in 10 of these procedures have been performed in children under the age of 18.

During a pancreatectomy, a surgeon removes the patient's pancreas. This relieves the pain that the patient has been experiencing. Usually without a pancreas, the patient will develop diabetes. However, surgeons at University of Minnesota Medical Center often perform an islet auto transplant along with the pancreatectomy. During this process, the surgeon isolates islet cells from the pancreas that is being removed. These cells are then put back into the patient's body where they can continue to produce insulin. This can help prevent the patient from developing diabetes.

To learn more about pancreatectomy and islet auto transplant at University of Minnesota, please visit the Schulze Diabetes Institute site.