Tampa General performs first pancreas transplant using high-tech transit device

TAMPA — When it’s not inside the human body, the pancreas is a fragile thing.

To be viable for organ donation, it survives best if stored between 4 and 8 degrees. But that narrow temperature window is a challenge when organs are transported across the country in plastic coolers with crushed ice.

That’s why Tampa General recently invested in a high-tech hypothermic preservation device that keeps the organ at optimal temperature during transit. In October, it performed the world’s first successful pancreas transplant using the device, officials said.

The recipient was a 40-year-old Tampa Bay man who has type 1 diabetes and was extremely sensitive to insulin, making his blood glucose levels difficult to control. The surgery was undertaken after the device had been tested with cadaver pancreases.

The donated organ survived a 10-hour journey to Tampa General. The team for the roughly 8-hour operation, which was performed on Oct. 17, was led by Hunter Witt, a transplant surgeon at the TGH Transplant Institute.

“Our transplant team at Tampa General continues to achieve remarkable firsts like this one, which is another example of how we relentlessly innovate in order to provide patients with world-class healthcare,” said Witt in a statement released by the hospital. “For our patients who need a pancreas transplant, this transformative technology is a milestone given the unique challenges associated with transporting this particular organ.”

The pancreas performs both digestive and hormonal functions within the body. It produces enzymes that are passed into the small intestine and help break down food. It also produces hormones that regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.

Pancreas transplant surgeries are relatively rare with around 900 performed in the United States each year, compared to roughly 3,700 heart transplants. The waitlist for a donor pancreas is typically between 12 and 18 months.

Tampa General averages about 15 pancreatic transplants each year. The low volume of such surgeries meant there had been little research and investment in technology to safely transport donated pancreases.

Marketed as the PancreasPak System, the device is billed by manufacturer Paragonix as the first commercially available hypothermic preservation system for donated pancreases and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

In addition to maintaining an optimal temperature for the organ, it transmits temperature and location details to transplant teams allowing them to prepare for surgery. The device costs around $18,000, company officials said.

“We believe that all donor organs should receive the best possible preservation regardless of transplant volumes,” said Lisa Anderson, president of Paragonix Technologies in a statement provided by Tampa General. “(This) is another step in our journey to deliver all transplant patients every possible advantage.”