Manaog, Buen Argene M.

BSN 4-B WHIPPLEs PROCEDURE

Whipple procedure: A type of surgery used to treat pancreatic cancer. The head of the pancreas, the duodenum, a portion of the stomach, and other nearby tissues are removed. The Whipple procedure is named for Allen O. Whipple, an American surgeon, 1881-1963 (not George Whipple, the Nobel Prize-winning pathologist, who described Whipple disease). A pancreaticoduodenectomy, pancreatoduodenectomy,[1] Whipple procedure, or KauschWhipple procedure, is a major surgical operation involving the pancreas, duodenum, and other organs. This operation is performed to treat cancerous tumours on the head of the pancreas, malignant tumors involving common bile duct, duodenal papilla, or duodenum near the pancreas. The goal of the Whipple procedure (pancreatoduodenectomy) is to remove the head of the pancreas where most tumors occur. Because the pancreas is so integrated with other organs, the surgeon must also remove the duodenum (first part of small intestine), the gallbladder, the end of the common bile duct and sometimes a portion of the stomach. In the reconstruction phase of the operation, the intestine, bile duct and remaining portion of the pancreas are reconnected.

The Whipple procedure is a difficult and demanding operation for both surgeon and patient. Laparoscopic option A laparoscopic Whipple procedure may be offered to select patients. The laparoscopic Whipple procedure is performed through six small incisions in the abdominal wall. A laparoscope, a long thin tube with a lighted camera at its tip, is inserted through one incision. The surgeon operates using specially designed surgical instruments placed through the remaining incisions, guided by the laparoscope images shown on a monitor in the operating room. At Mayo Clinic, laparoscopic Whipple surgery usually takes four to five hours. Most people leave the hospital in four to six days, compared to eight to 10 days for those who have conventional surgery. One month after a laparoscopic Whipple procedure, most people are able to eat normally, and many can return to work and normal activities. Mayo Clinic researchers are evaluating the laparoscopic approach to see if the benefits found in other minimally invasive surgeries less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery also apply in laparoscopic Whipple surgery. Complications The most common postsurgical complication of pancreatoduodenectomy is leaking of pancreatic juices from the incision. If this occurs, a drain may be inserted through the skin to allow drainage for several weeks after surgery. Weight loss is another frequent complication of the Whipple procedure. Diabetes is a potentially serious concern for some people (a minority) following surgery. In general, although many people do very well after the Whipple procedure, some develop immediate complications that affect their quality of life. To help ensure an uncomplicated recovery, Mayo Clinic specialists provide nutrition counseling and ongoing supportive care.