Whipple Procedure | The Medical City

Whipple Procedure

By The Medical City (TMC), Ortigas | April 17, 2018

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The Whipple Procedure, also known as Pancreaticoduodenectomy, is the most common curative surgical operation for cancer in the head (wide part) of the pancreas.


What is Whipple Procedure?

The Whipple Procedure, also known as Pancreaticoduodenectomy, is the most common curative surgical operation for cancer in the head (wide part) of the pancreas.

 

How is the Whipple Procedure done?

It is actually a five-organ resection where the gallbladder, the common bile duct, the end part of the stomach, the entire duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine) and the head of the pancreas are removed together. Because of its complexity and operative risks, the Whipple procedure is classified as a super major operation.

whipple procedure

How long does the procedure take?

Employing current techniques coupled with modern equipment, instruments and retractors, this complex procedure can be done in about three to four hours as opposed to about 15-18 hours without the use of sophisticated instruments.   

 

What is experienced by the patient during the procedure?  

The patient, being under general anesthesia, is completely asleep and unconscious throughout the entire procedure.

 

What will the patient expect after the surgery?

Immediately after the operation, the patient will be brought to the recovery room for close monitoring until vital signs are stable. Pain control is of prime importance so that the experience becomes truly pain free.

 

The patient may be advised to stay in the hospital for five to seven days. Recovery is expected to accelerate after 48-72 hours following surgery. Food consumption through mouth is usually advised three to four days after the operation. 

 

When will the result of the examination be available?

Histopathologic examination results of the resected specimen are usually made available within four to six working days.  However, for more difficult-to-diagnose cases, it may take a little longer.

 

What is the success rate of the Whipple procedure?

There is less than 12% chance of having an undesired complication (morbidity) and less than 5% of cases result in death after surgery (mortality). 

 

What are the risks and complications of the procedure?

Complex procedures such as the Whipple can have life-threatening risks and complications if left untreated, such as:

  • Infection
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Weight loss
  • Operative site leakage (anastomoses)
  • Diabetes or uncontrolled blood sugar due to the removal of the part of the pancreas

 

What are the risks and complications of NOT having the procedure?

Not having Whipple surgery may result in developing more complex cancer in the surrounding regions, such as the duodenum. If left untreated, patients may die in six months or less with a poor quality of life.

 

What are the possible alternatives to the procedure?

At the moment, there are no available alternatives to the Whipple Procedure but the emerging surgical approach is by laparoscopy or robotic surgery.

 

How can The Medical City help you?  

The Medical City (TMC) is a high-volume center for Periampullary and Pancreatic Cancer Management.  TMC has a highly competent, multidisciplinary team in place since 2007 and is dedicated to the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Cancer of the Pancreas as well as its surveillance and rehabilitation.

 

For inquiries, please visit or call:

 

AUGUSTO P. SARMIENTO CANCER INSTITUTE

8/F Nursing Tower 2, The Medical City

Tel. No.: (+632) 988-1000 / (+632) 988-7000 Ext. 6214

 

REFERENCES:

IHPBA Journal

The Medical City Department of Surgery Section of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery



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Whipple Procedure

By The Medical City (TMC), Ortigas

April 17, 2018


themedicalcity blue logo
The Whipple Procedure, also known as Pancreaticoduodenectomy, is the most common curative surgical operation for cancer in the head (wide part) of the pancreas.

What is Whipple Procedure?

The Whipple Procedure, also known as Pancreaticoduodenectomy, is the most common curative surgical operation for cancer in the head (wide part) of the pancreas.

 

How is the Whipple Procedure done?

It is actually a five-organ resection where the gallbladder, the common bile duct, the end part of the stomach, the entire duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine) and the head of the pancreas are removed together. Because of its complexity and operative risks, the Whipple procedure is classified as a super major operation.

whipple procedure

How long does the procedure take?

Employing current techniques coupled with modern equipment, instruments and retractors, this complex procedure can be done in about three to four hours as opposed to about 15-18 hours without the use of sophisticated instruments.   

 

What is experienced by the patient during the procedure?  

The patient, being under general anesthesia, is completely asleep and unconscious throughout the entire procedure.

 

What will the patient expect after the surgery?

Immediately after the operation, the patient will be brought to the recovery room for close monitoring until vital signs are stable. Pain control is of prime importance so that the experience becomes truly pain free.

 

The patient may be advised to stay in the hospital for five to seven days. Recovery is expected to accelerate after 48-72 hours following surgery. Food consumption through mouth is usually advised three to four days after the operation. 

 

When will the result of the examination be available?

Histopathologic examination results of the resected specimen are usually made available within four to six working days.  However, for more difficult-to-diagnose cases, it may take a little longer.

 

What is the success rate of the Whipple procedure?

There is less than 12% chance of having an undesired complication (morbidity) and less than 5% of cases result in death after surgery (mortality). 

 

What are the risks and complications of the procedure?

Complex procedures such as the Whipple can have life-threatening risks and complications if left untreated, such as:

  • Infection
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Weight loss
  • Operative site leakage (anastomoses)
  • Diabetes or uncontrolled blood sugar due to the removal of the part of the pancreas

 

What are the risks and complications of NOT having the procedure?

Not having Whipple surgery may result in developing more complex cancer in the surrounding regions, such as the duodenum. If left untreated, patients may die in six months or less with a poor quality of life.

 

What are the possible alternatives to the procedure?

At the moment, there are no available alternatives to the Whipple Procedure but the emerging surgical approach is by laparoscopy or robotic surgery.

 

How can The Medical City help you?  

The Medical City (TMC) is a high-volume center for Periampullary and Pancreatic Cancer Management.  TMC has a highly competent, multidisciplinary team in place since 2007 and is dedicated to the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Cancer of the Pancreas as well as its surveillance and rehabilitation.

 

For inquiries, please visit or call:

 

AUGUSTO P. SARMIENTO CANCER INSTITUTE

8/F Nursing Tower 2, The Medical City

Tel. No.: (+632) 988-1000 / (+632) 988-7000 Ext. 6214

 

REFERENCES:

IHPBA Journal

The Medical City Department of Surgery Section of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery


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