The procedure takes 4-12 hours. Recovery in the hospital can last 7-14 days. Healing at home takes about 2 weeks. You can return to normal life after 4-6 weeks.
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.
The Whipple procedure is a major inpatient surgery. You'll need to recover in the hospital for about a week.
There is no doubt that the Whipple procedure is a painful operation. This is largely due to the extent of the organs being removed or rearranged and the proximity of the pancreas to nerves as they exit the spine at the back of the abdomen during the operation.
Cytoreduction is a complex procedure that generally lasts 10 to 12 hours. Because this mesothelioma surgery is so lengthy, patients are sometimes admitted to the hospital a day before the surgery. Doctors use the extra day for preoperative testing (X-rays, blood tests and other preparatory measures).
Q: What was the longest operation ever? A: Actually, the longest surgery on record occurred in 2001 and lasted more than four straight days—103 hours to be exact. A team of 20 doctors at Singapore General Hospital worked in shifts to separate Ganga and Jamuna Shrestha, 11-month-old twins conjoined at the head.
The most protracted operation reported lasted for 96 hours and was performed on 4-8 February 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, USA on Mrs Gertrude Levandowski (USA) for the removal of an ovarian cyst. During the operation her weight fell 280 kg (616 lb / 44 st) to 140 kg (308 lb / 22 st).
Because the Whipple procedure continues to be one of the most demanding and risky operations for surgeons and patients, the American Cancer Society says it's best to have the procedure done at a hospital that performs at least 15 to 20 pancreas surgeries per year.
Typically, the Whipple procedure is a good option for patients whose cancer is confined to the pancreas or the small area adjacent to it, and who are in good enough health to reasonably anticipate that they will fully recover.
In these instances, a PD is performed to achieve a reasonable goal, palliation, and the term palliative Whipple accurately describes the procedure.
The Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is an operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder and the bile duct. The remaining organs are reattached to allow you to digest food normally after surgery.
The average hospitalization time after a Whipple procedure is one to two weeks, with the initial night after surgery spent in the intensive care unit (ICU). 2 Further recovery after discharge will take six to eight weeks.
The most common complication is post-op leaking of pancreatic juices from the site of the incision. A drain may need to be inserted through the skin to allow for the juices to drain, perhaps for several weeks. A rare but severe complication after surgery is bleeding from the gastroduodenal artery.
You should be given time to recover properly from your surgery before starting chemotherapy, as you need to be well enough for six months of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may start up to 12 weeks after your surgery.
Take the pain medications whenever you need it and as instructed by your doctor. Do not do any heavy lifting or straining for at least 6 weeks after surgery. Do not lift anything over 10 pounds or 5 kg. Do not drive if you are taking pain medication because these medications can cause you be sleepy or drowsy.
Dumping syndrome is when food moves too fast from the stomach into the small intestine. It may also be called rapid gastric emptying. Dumping syndrome is more common after a Whipple procedure than a modified Whipple procedure.
It is normal to lose up to 5-10% of your body weight after having a Whipple procedure. If you are continuing to lose weight exceeding 5-10% of your pre-surgery weight, consult a registered dietitian for recommendations on increasing your calorie intake.
There are a number of studies in more recent times that indicate that the Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) can be used to good effect even for patients in their eighties. This is welcome news, as adenocarcinoma of the pancreas tends to be a disease of older patients.
The Whipple's procedure is a complex surgery performed under general anaesthesia. During the procedure, your surgeon makes an incision and removes the head of the pancreas, the gallbladder, duodenum, a part of the bile duct, and sometimes a part of the stomach.
But a Whipple procedure is a very complex operation that often causes major changes to the digestive system. This can translate into some serious long-term effects, including abdominal discomfort, weight loss, digestive problems, and chronic fatigue.
There are two common types of Whipple procedures - the conventional Whipple and the pylorus-sparing Whipple.
To help with healing, eat foods high in protein, such as tender meats, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, peanut butter, and beans. Drink supplements such as Boost, Ensure, or Carnation Instant Breakfast. At first, you may have problems tolerating fatty foods.