The closer the match, the more likely that a particular recipient will receive the pancreas. The third factor is how long the pancreas candidate has been on the waiting list is taken into consideration. The success rate for pancreas transplantation has improved greatly over the past ten years, thanks to improvements in surgical technique, anti-rejection medications, and anesthesia. The major cause of graph failure is rejection by the body's defense system. Infection or blockage of the blood vessels to the pancreas can also cause it to fail.
Rejection is treated in two ways.
If the transplanted pancreas fails, the patient must again take insulin injections. Usually the patient can be placed back on the waiting list for a second pancreas.