Laparoscopic Whipple surgery - Is the procedure right for me?

What is a Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure)?

A Pancreaticoduodenectomy or Whipple Procedure is a complex surgical procedure meant to treat tumors, which occur over the head of the pancreas. This procedure simply involves removing pancreas head, small intestine portions, bile duct areas, gallbladder and even certain amount of stomach as well. This surgery ideally helps in removing the tumor along with the surrounding lymph nodes wherein cancer cells are seen metastasizing. After the surgery, the surgeon helps in reconstruction the gastrointestinal tract that helps the patient to consume and digest their food.

What are the benefits of Whipple Procedure?

Though in the initial days when the Whipple Procedure was introduced in the medical circles not many surgeons were keen to adopt the same since the death rate with it was high. However, in the seventies, things started improving and the success rate seemed going up. Slowly and steadily things started changing as improvements were seen in issues like diagnosis, anesthesia, postoperative care and surgical techniques. The procedure still has some amount of complications but as per the American Cancer Society, the procedure has a couple of benefits as well, which include shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and good success rate. One of the vital benefits of this procedure is that Whipple surgical procedure is the only potential curative surgery for pancreatic cancer.

What happens during the Whipple procedure?

During the surgery, the patient is given anesthesia and after that the surgeon often inserts special IV lines passing the tube inside the stomach via the stomach. The surgeon then is seen making small size incision over the abdomen area for inserting the laparoscope that helps to capture the inside picture to the surgeon of the abdominal cavity and certain internal organs. Now the surgeon has the view of these organs over the CAT scan screen, which helps him or her to remove the tumor in order to reconstruct over the GI tract. The surgery often takes around 4 to 8 hours depending upon the type of tumor the patient has. The patient is then shifted to the recovery room, while some would be admitted in ICU if the doctor sense amount of risks in the same. A majority of patients is seen spending around 7-10 days in the hospital this is generally done to monitor the recovery of the patients and combat the complication if any after the surgery.

What happens after the surgery?

As said above, the patient after the surgery is shifted to the recovery room. The patient often faces pain over the incision areas and is instructed not to consume any liquid or solid food for a couple of days. The intestine often requires 5 to 6 days to resume and come back to the normal life. But a majority of patients will be able to contain the bowel movements over their own in a week or so. The stomach would also be seen empty after the surgery and at times often give the patient a bloated or full experience. The surgeon observes the patient for a week after the surgery to keep the complications at bay. Also, the patients can have medications to improve their digestive systems for a couple of weeks after the surgery. You would soon be seen experiencing the reduced amount of appetite that at times helps in improving your health.

Is the procedure right for me?

A majority of patients would completely recover from their surgery within 6 to 8 weeks, while can take six months for the complete recovery. A majority of patients would need to consume iron and vitamin medicines. At times the patients can have temporary trouble that helps in regulating the sugar levels in your blood. Your doctor would help in determining if you would require long term medication in order to manage the blood sugars.

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