What is a medical Whipple procedure?

What is a medical Whipple procedure?

The Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is an operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder and the bile duct.

What are the two types of Whipple procedures?

There are two common types of Whipple procedures – the conventional Whipple and the pylorus-sparing Whipple. The conventional Whipple involves removal of the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, and a portion of the stomach, as well as the gallbladder and a portion of the bile duct.

What is recovery time for Whipple surgery?

How long does it take to recover from a Whipple procedure? Patients typically leave the hospital and go home within a week. But, for most people, it takes as long as 2 to 6 months to fully get back to a normal quality of life. Ultimately, patients should be able to do anything after surgery that they could do before.

Why is it called Whipple surgery?

The classic Whipple procedure is named after Allen Whipple, MD, a Columbia University surgeon who was the first American to perform the operation in 1935.

What are five organs are involved in a Whipple procedure?

During this procedure, surgeons remove the head of the pancreas, most of the duodenum (a part of the small intestine), a portion of the bile duct, the gallbladder and associated lymph nodes. In some cases, the surgeon may remove the body of the pancreas, the entire duodenum and a portion of the stomach.

Why is Whipple surgery so difficult?

Whipple procedures are complicated because they involve so many different organs, but that’s not the only reason. “The pancreas is located in a very difficult spot, deep in the central part of the abdomen,” Reddy explained.

How painful is Whipple surgery?

There is no doubt that the Whipple procedure is a painful operation. This is largely due to the extent of the organs being removed or rearranged and the proximity of the pancreas to nerves as they exit the spine at the back of the abdomen during the operation.

Do you need chemo after Whipple surgery?

You should be offered chemotherapy after surgery to remove the cancer (such as the Whipple’s procedure), to try to reduce the chances of the cancer coming back.

Does Whipple surgery shorten life?

The survival rate for a Whipple procedure has improved a lot in the last few decades. Thirty years ago between 5% and 15% of people who went through the Whipple procedure died from complications. Now the mortality rate is about 1% to 3%.

What are the long term side effects of the Whipple procedure?

What are the long-term side effects?

• decreased pancreatic function, in which the organ doesn’t produce enough enzyme to digest food in the small intestine. This can result in abdominal pain and tenderness, loss of appetite, and weight loss and diarrhea.
• diabetes.
• difficulty digesting fatty and/or sugary foods.