Expand / Collapse search
☰

Tampa General Hospital using new ‘PancreasPak’ to improve transplants

By
Published  January 9, 2025 6:08pm EST
Tampa
FOX 13 News

TGH using new ‘PancreasPak’ to improve transplants

FOX 13's Evan Axelbank reports on Tampa General Hospital's use of new technology to transport the pancreas to operating rooms more efficiently for transplants. The hospital hopes this will help cut wait times and increase the number of organs available for transplant.

The Brief

    • TGH is using new technology to get pancreas' to operating rooms in a more efficient way.
    • The "PancreasPak" keeps the organ between 39 and 46 degrees while it's being transported.
    • The technology was created by the Massachusetts company, Paragonix.

TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa General Hospital is using new technology to get pancreas' to their operating rooms for transplants in a much more efficient way. It could help count down wait times and increase the number of organs available. 

For all the equipment Dr. Hunter Witt works with and all that he knows, technology didn't always keep up – even when it comes to a transplant. 

"A pancreas is an organ in your foregut that serves many functions," he said. "We received our pancreas grafts in a cardboard box."

READ: Titans star Frank Wycheck had CTE, researchers confirm

Aside from multiple layers of sterile bags, the donor pancreas would travel having barely more than the level of attention as an ice cream cone.

"It's lying on a bed of ice, and the temperature fluctuations can vary," said Witt.

The pancreas weighs about a 1/4 of a pound and is about six inches long, and spends its time breaking down fat, protein and regulating blood sugar. In Type One diabetics who need a transplant, the pancreas is usually not functioning properly.

"Every single patient who's on the list has a condition that is debilitating to their life," said Witt. "Patients that are on dialysis three days a week, they're sitting in a chair for four-plus hours."

MORE: Whooping cough: Cases increased by 400% in 2024

But Witt said a new "PancreasPak" made by Massachusetts company Paragonix, keeps the organ at between 39 and 46 degrees Farenheit during transport in a double-sealed and controlled canister that can be monitored from the outside. 

"Every minute that we have it out of the body, the graft is suffering," said Witt. "This allows us to have it suffer the least."

The hope is that the use of the technology will allow them to expand the distance they can accept new donors from, which could cut down the 12-18 month wait time for recipients, and improve the function of the organ.

"Knowing that the graft is better preserved makes you breathe easier as far as expecting the graft to function better and for longer," Witt said. 

Further, while it's in transit, the PancreasPak has a GPS embedded, so doctors know exactly how long they have until they can rescue the patient from years more of difficult dialysis.

"It's a wonderful experience to get to see a patient on the other side of the transplant," said Witt.

WATCH FOX 13 LIVE:

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:

TampaHealth