Psychosocial Outcomes 1-year Post Total Pancreatectomy and Autologous Islet Cell Transplant

J. Steel¹, A. Amin¹, M. Wijkstrom¹, A. Zureikat¹, E. Tillman¹, R. Jones¹, D. Yadav¹, A. Slivka¹, A. Phillips¹, M. Bellin², A. Carroll³, A. Humar¹

¹University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, ²University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, ³University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Meeting: 2021 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 1243

Keywords: Islets, Pain, Pancreatitis, Psychosocial

Topic: Clinical Science » Pancreas » Pancreas and Islet: All Topics

Session Information

Session Name: Pancreas and Islet: All Topics

Session Type: Poster Abstract

Session Date & Time: None. Available on demand.

Location: Virtual

*Purpose: A paucity of research regarding the psychosocial outcomes after-total pancreatectomy and autologous islet cell transplantation exists. The aim of the study was to examine the psychosocial outcomes of patients who have undergone total pancreatectomy and autologous islet cell transplantation at 1-year post-surgery.

*Methods: Adults (>18 years), adolescents (13-18 years), and children (5-12 years) and the children’s parents were administered a battery of questionnaires at the time of evaluation and 1-year post-surgery. The battery of questionnaires included the BPI, CES-D, STAI, FACT-Fatigue, PSQI, FACES, RCBC, and SF-36. Repeated measures analyses of covariance was performed to assess changes in these symptoms relative to surgery.

*Results: A total of 13 adult and 15 children/adolescents with chronic pancreatitis were included in the study. Of the adults, the majority were female (53.8%), Caucasian (100%) with a mean age of 35.2 years (SD=9.8). The mean age of the child/adolescent patients was 12.3 years (SD=2.6) and the majority were female (53.3%) and Caucasian (100%). A total of 69.2% of the adults and 80% of the children and adolescents were insulin dependent at 1-year post surgery. No significant differences were observed by etiology with the exception of fatigue (Wilks’ Lambda=4.86, p=0.037) and SF-36 general health (Wilks’ Lambda=9.27, p=0.011) with those having cryptogenic or substance use related etiologies having greater fatigue and poorer general health when compared to those with cystic fibrosis at 1-year post-surgery. Patients who underwent robotic-assisted surgery reported better general health than patients who underwent open surgery (Wilks’ Lambda=6.0, p=0.040) at 1-year. After adjusting for age, improvements on the SF-36 social functioning (Wilks’ Lambda=6.8, p=0.032); pain (Wilks’ Lambda=24.9, p=0.001), and general health were observed (Wilks’ Lambda=5.4, p=0.045) 1-year post-surgery. For the children and adolescents, reductions in pain (Wilks’ Lambda=6.8, p=0.04), pain interference (Wilks’ Lambda=14.3, p=0.04), and fatigue were observed (Wilks’ Lambda=7.2, p=0.032) at 1-year post surgery.

*Conclusions: While few transplant centers offer this treatment, the reduction in pain and improvement in quality of life suggests this may be a viable treatment option for those with chronic pancreatitis. Future cost-effectiveness research is needed to understand changes in health care utilization and costs after surgery.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Steel J, Amin A, Wijkstrom M, Zureikat A, Tillman E, Jones R, Yadav D, Slivka A, Phillips A, Bellin M, Carroll A, Humar A. Psychosocial Outcomes 1-year Post Total Pancreatectomy and Autologous Islet Cell Transplant [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2021; 21 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/psychosocial-outcomes-1-year-post-total-pancreatectomy-and-autologous-islet-cell-transplant/. Accessed May 12, 2025.

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