Can you explain a whipple procedure?

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.

Resect and reconnect: The head of the pancreas, the duodenum, and the bile duct are all tightly connected structures, so that if one of those organs needs to be resected - they all come together. Once the site of disease has been removed, those three organs are reconnected again. It is important to find a surgeon with experience in the field since studies show that case volume is a key factor to patient safety.

Pancreas removal: Surgery to remove head of pancreas along with associated small intestine, usually for a mass in pancreas blocking the bile duct. The bile duct and remaining pancreas are re-attached to small intestine or stomach. The small intestine ends before and after the removal are then either reconnected or otherwise reconstructed. Any variations possible.