First simultaneous intestine-pancreas transplant performed in Spain
The Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid has achieved a medical milestone by performing the first simultaneous intestine-pancreas transplant in Spain, a procedure with only one previous case described globally. The patient, 46-year-old Juan Jesús Martínez, suffered from chronic intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome from possible panarteritis nodosa, along with type 1 diabetes Source: ABC.
The Procedure
The surgery combined a single graft of intestine and pancreas, conducted in March by the hospital's Unit of Abdominal Organ Transplantation. "Not the first time that the pancreatic graft has been included with an intestinal graft, but it has always been done as part of a multivisceral transplant involving other organs," explained Dr. Jorge Calvo Source: Elmundoes. The operation was described as highly complex, with scarce world experience Source: Lavanguardia.
Recovery and Outlook
The patient was discharged 16 days post-op and now eats orally. "He had a surprisingly good recovery. 16 days after the intervention he was at home. He is gaining weight and recovering his normal life," said Dr. Calvo Source: Elmundoes. Martínez himself stated: "Now I'm great. My idea is to go skiing again, play paddle tennis, go to the gym, and enjoy life with my children" Source: ABC. The hospital is the only accredited center in Spain for intestinal and multivisceral transplants Source: El Español.
Significance
This transplant expands therapeutic options for patients with irreversible intestinal failure and associated pancreatic pathology Source: Lavanguardia. Only one other case exists in international medical literature Source: Infobae (EFE).
Sources
4 quotes“No es la primera vez que se incluye el injerto pancreático con un injerto intestinal pero siempre se ha hecho en el seno de un trasplante multivisceral asociando otros órganos. De hecho, ambos órganos comparten anatomía, comparten vasos sanguíneos y desde el punto de vista técnico es mucho más sencillo y mejora la función de ambos injertos.”
“Tuvo una recuperación sorprendentemente buena. A los 16 días de la intervención estaba en su domicilio. Está llevando una evolución magnífica. Está consiguiendo ganar peso, está recuperando su vida normal, ya pregunta por la posibilidad de hacer deporte.”
“Tuve un infarto intestinal masivo, me quitaron el intestino delgado y el intestino grueso y me dijeron que en un futuro probablemente fuese candidato a un trasplante, que al final sí que salió bien. Hay que tener la cabeza en su sitio y estar siempre animado, siempre positivo, siempre pensando que las cosas van a salir bien.”
“El paciente, de 46 años, sufría un fallo intestinal crónico asociado a una enfermedad poco común y ya había perdido el intestino delgado y grueso tras un infarto intestinal masivo.”