Question 1

what is the "whipple procedure"?

Accepted Answer

Pancreaticoduodenect: Pancreaticoduodenectomy. It's a procedure that removes the head of the pancreas, the duodenum and part of the bile duct. It's performed for problems with the pancreas, bile duct, the duodenum, or rarely for severe trauma to those organs. Most commonly it's done for pancreas masses, cysts, or cancer. It requires 3 re-connections of the bile duct, the pancreatic duct, and the stomach and intestine.

Question 2

is the whipple procedure dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Major operation: The whipple procedure is removal of the head of the pancreas and most of the duodenum (first portion of the small intestine), done for a tumor or other type of serious problem. Since these structures are connected to the stomach and the liver and the rest of the pancreas, new connections are created. Today, outcomes are quite good....And better than allowing tumors to grow. But risks are real.

Question 3

can you explain a whipple procedure?

Accepted Answer

Major surgery: Whipple surgery involves removal of a part of the pancreas, small intestine & bile duct with several new surgical connections performed. Best performed by a well experienced general surgeon who has done many of these procedures. Risks of bleeding, infection, poor healing, pancreas leak, diabetes, etc.

Question 4

what happens during a whipple procedure?

Accepted Answer

Major surgery: Whipple surgery involves removal of a part of the pancreas, small intestine & bile duct with several new surgical connections performed. Best performed by a well experienced general surgeon who has done many of these procedures. Risks of bleeding, infection, poor healing, pancreas leak, diabetes, etc.

Question 5

what can i expect from a whipple procedure?

Accepted Answer

A cure (we hope): A whipple operation involves removal of a part of the pancreas and duodenum and then re-routing the stomach, bile, and pancreatic enzymes back into the intestine. All this re-wiring has risks that favor doing this operation only at "centers of excellence" with surgeons very proficient (volume matters). Even in the best of hands, convalescence may take weeks or longer w/complications.

Question 6

what is life like after whipple procedure ?

Accepted Answer

Eventually normal: Recovery is slow and can be even slower with complications. Patients who are not diabetic and have normal pancreatic functions maintain normal function postoperatively most of the time. Patients will initially have poor appeptite and lose weight but eventually return to eating a normal diet. Recovery can also be delayed if  patients require chemo &/or radiation.

Question 7

when is it needed to do   the whipple procedure?

Accepted Answer

See below: The most common need for a whipple procedure, is early stage pancreatic cancer.

Question 8

what is the medical term for the whipple procedure?

Accepted Answer

Whipple: The medical term for a whipple  is a pancreaticoduodenectomy. In this operation, the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, and the bile duct are all removed, and the areas are reconnected.   A whipple is usually done for a tumor involving the head of the pancreas, the bile duct, or the duodenum.

Question 9

what are long term whipple procedure complications?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends somewhat on why the surgery was performed. If the pancreas surgery was for cancer, the long term risks are cancer recurrence. If the surgery was for pain from chronic pancreatitis, the long term risk is pain recurrence. Other risks are diabetes, fatty food intolerance, nutritional  or dietary changes.

Question 10

how long can one survive with the whipple procedure?

Accepted Answer

That depends: Whipple procedures can be curative for some people undergoing them. I would discuss your specific prognosis with the surgeon who did or is recommending your whipple.

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