The pathologist pays particular attention to the margins, or borders, of the tissue to ensure that there are no cancerous cells at the edges of the specimen. This process can be extremely painstaking, and it can take days before the final report is issued. Finally, the person who underwent the Whipple procedure typically goes to a follow-up visit after their discharge from the hospital.
The doctor will first ensure they are healing and recovering adequately. Later, the person will have another follow-up visit to ensure the cancer has not come back. This surveillance process can last for years. Sometimes, chemotherapy can be considered following the operation to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. I would tell anyone preparing for the Whipple procedure that it is a life-changing—but potentially life-saving—procedure.
It is also a good idea to ask your surgeon about their past experience performing the operation to better understand the most likely outcomes and complication rates at their specific practice and hospital. Remember that the pancreas is an endocrine and an exocrine organ, so it produces both hormones and digestive enzymes.
Because of this, the Whipple procedure may cause certain long-term issues, including post-operative diabetes. Your surgeon can estimate the possibility of post-operative diabetes and can engage the help of an endocrinologist, which is a doctor who specializes in treatment of the endocrine system, accordingly. They may also prescribe medicines that help with the breakdown of dietary fats and proteins if there is difficulty with digesting or absorbing these nutrients after surgery.
Pancreatic Cancer , an affiliate of the Lustgarten Foundation, may be a good starting point, as is the pancsm hashtag on Twitter. Share your thoughts on this blog post on Cancer. Net's Facebook and Twitter. The Cancer. Net Podcasts Tags About Us.
Lewis, MD. September 16, The pancreas is a pear-shaped gland located in the curve of the duodenum, which is the first section of the small intestine where it connects to the stomach.
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This figure shows a tumor on the head of the pancreas before Whipple procedure. This figure shows the surgical separation of the 1 bile duct, 2 stomach, 3 head of the pancreas and 4 small intestine. This figure shows the re-attachment of the 5 bile duct to the small intestine, 6 remaining pancreas to the small intestine and 7 stomach to the small intestine.
Pancreatic Cancer Specialists Understand why it is important to see a pancreatic cancer specialist for your care. As you can probably imagine, this is a complex operation that may last many hours. It involves many critical organs that all need to work together. The Whipple procedure has been used increasingly over the years in treating pain and other complications of chronic pancreatitis. Best known for its use in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, the procedure has a success rate of percent in treating chronic pancreatitis.
Malignancies in the pancreas, bile duct, or the duodenum, are frequently seen together. This is because they form a complex connection of ducts that send enzymes into the duodenum in order to completely digest food. The Whipple procedure takes into account the involvement of these organs, and the surgeon makes decisions based on the spread of the malignancy.
When used in the treatment of cancer, the Whipple operation has a complication rate of 30 - 40 percent and a mortality rate of less than two percent.
The complication rate may be similar or lower in its treatment for chronic pancreatitis depending on the severity of the pancreatitis and the medical condition of the patient. This is a complex operation that will require hospitalization for one to two weeks with the first post-surgery night spent in the intensive care unit before being transferred to the surgical floor. Patients usually remain fatigued for about two months after this operation. Follow-up with the surgeon normally occurs on a weekly basis.
Radiation and chemotherapy are frequently administered in addition to any primary post-surgical care. During this time you will be monitored carefully for any signs of complications. Your food intake will also be carefully controlled. You will not have anything to eat for the first few days so your reconstructed digestive system can heal.
Pain management will be effected through the use of a pain pump immediately after the operation, which will be replaced by pills when you have begun to consume solid food. When you are finally released from the hospital, you will still have a lot of healing to do. In order to accomplish this, you will be given a strict set of instructions, some of which are:. Learning to eat after your operation is about trial and error.
You will eventually find a pattern and food that suits you. You may be given pancreatic enzyme replacements that you will need to take with food. Follow the instructions for this prescription carefully.
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