The experts at UPMC’s Pancreas Center of Excellence are known internationally for their leading-edge treatment methods and research that is advancing the field of pancreatic care.
Here are a few of the specialty services that distinguish UPMC from other centers.
We are one of the few digestive health centers in the United States that performs total pancreatectomy and auto-islet transplantation, a highly specialized technique that involves total removal of the pancreas.
It can be used when a patient has failed to respond to all other treatment options for chronic pancreatitis, and has been shown to provide pain relief in 85% of cases.
Our doctors were among the first to develop methods for laparoscopic surgery on the delicate tissues of the pancreas.
We offer pancreatic surgery using the da Vinci® Surgical System, a surgical tool also used to provide minimally invasive surgery for other types of diseases.
People who suffer from chronic pancreatitis are at an increased risk for pancreatic diabetes, a disease that is often confused with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
As a result of frequent misdiagnosis, type 3c diabetes is often mistreated, which can lead to serious complications.
Our research has created new guidelines for diagnosing and treating this disease.
In some cases, pancreatitis can overlap with other GI diseases such as liver disease or inflammatory bowel disease.
We work closely with experts in other digestive health specialties to provide coordinated care for these patients.
Our doctors also work closely with specialists in cystic fibrosis, a disease that causes mucus to become thick and sticky. This mucus builds up in the lungs and causes chronic lung infections, but it also blocks the ducts in the pancreas that release digestive enzymes into the small intestine.
For people living with pancreatitis or other chronic digestive disorders, it can be difficult to cope with the impact the disease has on their quality of life.
Our doctors at the UPMC Pancreas Center of Excellence are active in a wide variety of studies to make it easier to diagnose and treat pancreatic diseases.
Recent research has focused on:
As a result of our research, we're able to generate profiles of our patients to identify the genetic causes of pancreatic diseases.
Our experts have been called upon to present their findings to other physicians at conferences around the world.
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