After years of suffering with constant hospital stays, feeding tubes, and heavy pain relief, I was told there was nothing else that could be done to help me. I had lost so much weight and was slowly losing myself. However, hope came in the form of a total pancreatectomy with auto islet transplant. This procedure allowed me to regain my life and health. Thanks to the amazing team at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, I now have my life back. I am healthy, able to enjoy traveling with my family, and looking forward to participating in the BEN NEVIS CLIMB event on July 28, 2024. This event is a personal trek aimed at raising awareness and funds for the Oxford Hospitals Charity. My goal is to raise £1,000 to support ongoing work for future patients like me.

WHAT IS TPAIT SURGERY-

Over the years there have been a number of centres around the world that regularly perform total pancreatectomy combined with islet autotransplantation for chronic pancreatitis.

This procedure allows the islets to be isolated (separated) from the diseased pancreas immediately after it has been removed in the operating theatre. The islet cells are then separated from the diseased pancreas and given back to the you by injecting them into the liver.

A total pancreatectomy (removal of the pancreas) is performed during open surgery through a large cut (incision) across the top of the abdomen. Sometimes the spleen has to be removed too.

As soon as the pancreas is removed, it is taken to a dedicated cell isolation laboratory which is in the Centre for Life. Specialised enzymes (proteins) are then used to digest the gland and separate out the islets, which are clusters of cells which produce insulin (which keeps sugars low) and the hormones glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide (which keep sugars high).

The islet cells are then processed (purified if necessary) and returned to the operating room as quickly as possible. This process can take anything from 4-6 hours.

While the pancreas is being processed the surgeon reconnects the bile tube and the bowel and inserts a tube into a suitable vein ready for the injection of the islets into the liver. Reconstructions may vary depending on the extent of any previous surgery.

After the islets have been injected into your liver, in this new and healthy environment they can recover from the isolation process and develop a new blood supply. With a new blood supply they resume their production of the necessary insulin and hormones to maintain normal blood sugar levels.