The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on autologous pancreatic islet cell transplantation for improved glycaemic control after pancreatectomy.

This document together with the guidance published on allogeneic pancreatic islet cell transplantation for type 1 diabetes mellitus (NICE interventional procedure guidance 257) replaces previous guidance on pancreatic islet cell transplantation.

Description

Patients with chronic pancreatitis or some pancreatic tumours may require the surgical removal of all, or part, of their pancreas. As the pancreas is responsible for insulin production, surgical removal of the pancreas causes these patients to develop insulin-dependent diabetes.

Autologous pancreatic islet cell transplantation involves the removal of parts of the patient's own pancreas (the islet cells, which are responsible for insulin production), after the pancreas has been removed. These cells are then inserted into the patient's liver to restart insulin production within the body.

Coding and clinical classification codes for this guidance