Laparoscopic Whipple Procedure
Laparoscopic Whipple Procedure
Laparoscopic whipple procedure is a type of surgical operation which is used to remove the front part (or the head) of the pancreas, duodenum, or the front part of the small intestine, the bile duct, and the gallbladder. Laparoscopy is a method of performing this procedure. In this procedure, the surgeon makes several little incisions in your abdominal area to do the surgery. The laparoscopic surgical method is a type of minimally invasive surgery. It is a little risky procedure but still, it is a lifesaver in many cases.
Why it’s done
The Laparoscopic Whipple procedure is generally used for treating the disorders like tumors, etc of the intestine, the pancreas, and the bile duct. The main goal of this laparoscopic whipple procedure is to remove the issue from your body and prevent it from growing and spreading to the other organs. For cancer patients, this is the only treatment currently that can cure most of these types of tumors and also can lead to prolonged survival.
So, it may occur to be a good treatment option for the people who are affected by-
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pancreatic tumor
- Pancreatic cysts
- Pancreatitis
- Bile duct cancer
- Small bowel cancer
- Ampullary cancer
- Neuroendocrine cancer
- Trauma to the small intestine or the pancreas
- Other disorders that affect the duodenum, pancreas, or bile duct
Dr. Vinay for Laparoscopic Whipple Procedure In India
Dr. Vinay Samuel Gaikwad is a dynamic cancer surgeon with considerable training. He has more than two decades of clinical expertise and was previously affiliated with some of India’s finest hospitals. He is the best choice for the Laparoscopic Whipple procedure in India.
How do you prepare
There is nothing much you can do. Just follow the instructions and cooperate with your surgeon, he/ she will do most of the things for you. Firstly your surgeon will assess your health through several tests and ensure that you are healthy enough for this complex surgery.
Your surgeon will analyze a list of factors and decide which approach is best for you. You may need to optimize your health conditions before proceeding with the surgery. If you are reading this article, chances are that your surgeon has chosen a laparoscopic surgical approach for your treatment.
What can you expect – before the laparoscopic whipple procedure
Before the procedure, an intravenous (IV) line will be put into a vein of your arm (usually). This intravenous line will be further used to inject medications and fluids into your veins as per the requirement. The surgeon will also give you some special medications to help you relax in case you are nervous.
You may also get injected with a spinal injection or undergo placement of an epidural catheter in addition to blocking the local nerves of the abdominal wall. These add- ons will help you to recover with minimal discomfort and pain after the surgery and help you to decrease the number of pain-relieving medications that you may require after the surgery.
What can you expect – during the laparoscopic whipple procedure
A well-trained and experienced team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, and specialized surgical nurses will have your back while doing the surgery. First, they will put you to sleep by giving you certain medications. After you are asleep, some additional IV lines or intravenous lines may be placed with other monitoring devices, depending on your overall health condition at that time and the complexity of the operation. A urinary catheter will be inserted into your bladder. It is a tube that will drain out the urine in your bladder during and after your surgery. It will generally get removed from your bladder after one or two days of the surgery.
The surgery may take four to eight hours to complete depending on the complexity of the operation. An adequate dosage of anesthesia will be injected into you to keep you asleep and unaware throughout the operation.
The surgeon will make some incisions in your abdomen to access your internal organs. In the laparoscopic approach, the doctor will also insert a camera for having a clear understanding and extra guidance throughout the operation.
The goal of the laparoscopic whipple procedure will be to remove the head of the pancreas, the duodenum or the beginning part of the small intestine, the gallbladder, and the bile duct. In some cases, the surgeon may also have to remove a small portion of the stomach or the nearby lymph nodes depending on your condition and the situation.
In the end, the surgeon will reconnect the remaining parts of your stomach, pancreas, and intestines to allow your digestion process without any interruption.
What can you expect – after the laparoscopic whipple procedure
After your laparoscopic whipple procedure, you can expect to either stay in the general surgical unit or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) depending on your medical condition or the complexity of the case. After discharge from the hospital, most people can return to their homes for the continuation of the recovery and can also get involved in their everyday activities after about four to six weeks past the surgery.
Outcome
Your chances of long-term survival after having a laparoscopic whipple procedure depend upon your particular situation date, Whipple procedure is the only known cure for most cancers and tumors of the pancreas. After the surgery, you must stay in touch with your surgeon and your family and friends to feel less stressed.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is Whipple operation laparoscopically possible?
A laparoscopic Whipple operation may be available for certain patients. The Whipple surgery is performed laparoscopically through tiny incisions in the abdominal wall. Through a single incision, a laparoscope, a long, thin tube with a camera at its tip, is introduced.
What are the differences between the two different types of Whipple procedures?
The standard Whipple operation and the pylorus-sparing Whipple procedure are the two most prevalent forms of Whipple procedures. The traditional Whipple procedure involves the removal of the gallbladder, a section of the bile duct, the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, and a portion of the stomach. In addition, the gallbladder is removed.
Why is Whipple surgery such a challenging procedure?
The fact that Whipple procedures involve so many distinct organs is one of the primary reasons for their complexity; nevertheless, this is not the sole reason. “The pancreas is positioned in a very tough spot, deep in the center section of the belly,” “The location of the pancreatic makes it difficult to access.”
How uncomfortable is the Whipple procedure?
The Whipple technique is without a shadow of a doubt an invasive and agonizing operation. This is mostly the result of the significant amount of organs that are either removed or changed during the procedure, as well as the close proximity of the pancreas to nerves as they emerge from the spine at the back of the abdomen.
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About
Dr. Vinay Samuel Gaikwad
GI & HPB Surgical Oncologist
MBBS, MS, FMAS, FIAGES, FAIS, FALS, FACS (USA), GI & HPB Oncology (TMH, Mumbai), HPB Oncology (MSKCC, New York)
Dr. Vinay Samuel Gaikwad is a reputed and exceptional Gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary (GI & HPB) cancers surgeon. Dr. Vinay specializes in Advanced Minimal Access Surgery and HIPEC. He also has expertise in Pancreatic and Liver Cancer Surgery, Laparoscopic Colorectal and Upper GI Cancer Surgery and Neuroendocrine Tumours, to list a few. He has undergone specialsed training in Advanced Minimally Invasive Upper GI Surgery, IRCAD at Taiwan and has also gone through a dedicated Certified 2 year fellowship in GI and HPB Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Over the years he has successfully handled numerous complex cancer surgery cases. India.
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