Q. I am interested in being evaluated for a pancreas transplant. What is the process?
A. Please contact the Transplant Office at 402-552-2440 or 1-800-401-4444 and ask to speak to a Pre-Transplant Coordinator. The Pre-Transplant Coordinator will answer your questions and complete a referral form. A packet will then be sent to your home. The packet contains information about the transplant process and procedure, living donor information, information about our Transplant Center as well as questionnaires that need to be completed and returned. Medical releases will also be included in your packet so that we can obtain necessary records from your physicians and/or hospital. Once we have the questionnaires and medical records, the Transplant Team will review the information and schedule the necessary testing to complete the transplant evaluation.

Q. How long does the transplant evaluation take?
A. The time to complete all the necessary testing of a transplant evaluation can vary from patient to patient. Most of the testing will be scheduled at The Nebraska Medical Center in a 3-4 day time period. The testing is determined based on the patient’s past medical history, what testing has already been done and the results of the testing.

Q. I have a family member/friend that is interested in being a kidney donor for me. How do we proceed?
A. Once our transplant team has met with you and has completed the necessary evaluation to determine your transplant candidacy, we can proceed with the evaluation of the potential donor(s).

Q. Does my insurance company cover my transplant?
A. Financial counseling is part of the transplant evaluation; the financial screening starts at the time of your referral.

Q. Does your transplant center provide dialysis?
A. Our center has specialists who offer all dialysis options; outpatient hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, acute hemodialysis, and continuous renal replacement therapy. We have several nephrologists and nurses specially trained in dialysis, dialysis education and follow-up.

Q. How long will I need to remain in the Omaha area before or after my transplant?
A. Once your evaluation is complete, generally you can return home until an organ becomes available. Your time in Omaha after the transplant depends on several factors: medical status, resources near your home, follow-up treatment needed and support systems.

Q. I have Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. How do I know if I am a candidate for a pancreas transplant?
A. The evaluation process, as well as past medical history will help determine if you are a candidate for a transplant. If you are a transplant candidate, these evaluations will also help determine the type of transplant that would be in your best interest.

Q. How will I know when I have been placed on the transplant waiting list?
A. The Pre-Transplant Coordinator assigned to you will contact you by phone and explain several aspects of what it means to “go on the list”. You will then be placed on the list and you will also receive a letter telling you that you are on the list along with several helpful hints that you will need to know while waiting.

Q. How long will I be waiting for a transplant?
A. Length of time on the waiting list depends on many things:

• Blood type
• Antibody status
• Organ in which you are waiting
• Willingness to consider the “Expanded Criteria Donor”
• Living donor possibilities

Your Pre-Transplant Coordinator will be better able to answer your questions after we gather more specific information.

Q. I have had Type I diabetes for many years and am very interested in a transplant. How do I know whether to have an islet cell transplant or a pancreas transplant?
A. The evaluation for a pancreas transplant and an islet cell transplant are very similar. The evaluation process will help us determine what type of transplant we would recommend.

back to top