Recovery involves managing pain, … Depending on where your cancer is located, different parts of your digestive system may be removed and rearranged. The Whipple surgery itself can take several hours and is often grueling for the surgical team. Step 1: The surgeon removes the part of the pancreas with the tumor. The Whipple procedure (also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy) is the primary surgical treatment for pancreatic cancer that occurs within the head of the gland. Blood test first cane back all clear, about 4 - 5 weeks ago, then 2 weeks ago, more blood tests showed raised cancer markers. At the same time, undergoing pancreatic surgery can be challenging. During this operation, the surgeon removes the head of the pancreas and sometimes the body of the pancreas as well. Hello @salledell. You will have a fluid diet on the first day after surgery. Surgery to remove a tumor offers the best chance for long-term control of all pancreatic cancer types. Using the WARP protocol 76 percent of patients were ready to be discharged at day 5 in the 5-day group, whereas only 13 percent of the 7-day group were ready to be discharged by day 5. Try walking each day for 30 minutes or try an aquatics program. Recovery from the Whipple Procedure You will awaken with a nasal tube in your stomach to be used to remove any contents, such as saliva. A pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as a Whipple procedure, is a major surgical operation most often performed to remove cancerous tumours off the head of the pancreas. I wish you both luck and a good recovery - for both of you. UChicago Medicine works to enhance recovery so patients can go home as soon as possible. With any type of exercise, be sure to warm-up for 5 minutes. A mini-Whipple surgery is used to treat pancreatic cancer when the tumor is located in the head of the pancreas. My husband lost 50lbs and he's only 5' 6". A Whipple procedure or pancreaticoduodenectomy involves removal of the head of the pancreas, and portion of the bile duct, the gallbladder and the duodenum, along with part of the stomach, which are then all rejoined to the intestine. Serious problems soon after surgery can include bile leakage into the abdomen, infections, and liver failure. Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) A Whipple procedure is used to treat pancreatic NETs found in the head of the pancreas. You might also find some helpful posts in the following Connect discussions. The Whipple procedure removes pancreatic cancer or a tumor. Most people stay in hospital for 1–2 weeks after surgery, and full recovery takes at least 8–12 weeks. The surgeon removes the head of the pancreas, the gallbladder and the first section of the small intestine (the duodenum). whipple? I, too, had a whipple procedure in December 2013 done laproscopically and my recovery was speedy. It was devised by the U.S. Whipple to treat pancreatic cancer. During this procedure, surgeons remove the head of the pancreas, most of the duodenum (a part of the small intestine), a portion of the bile duct, the gallbladder and associated lymph nodes. Your surgeon should have a handout and other information to … Stretch before and after activity. Dr. Boris Kuvshinoff outlines the necessary care and recovery following a Whipple procedure. Blood tests will be needed on a regular basis. Signs to look out for are feeling very thirsty and hungry accompanied by an increased need to urinate. spread of cancer, the Whipple surgery will be done. How to Prepare For some pancreatic patients, however, a complex surgery known as the Whipple procedure may extend life and could be a potential cure. It's complex surgery: Whipple surgery is a fairly complex surgery. The Whipple procedure, or pancreaticoduodenectomy, is the most common surgery to remove tumors in the pancreas. The most recent member is @susan2018, whose husband had the Whipple procedure recently.Also, @marvinjsturing, who has had the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and had a Whipple many years ago. A Whipple surgery for pancreatic cancer involves removing part of the pancreas and other organs and rerouting the digestive tract. You will be asked to begin walking the first day after your surgery. To help with this, doctors recommend that patients get certain vaccines before this surgery. For a person with pancreatic cancer, surgery may be the only option for a cure, and one such type of surgery is a Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy). This affects how your body digests food, which means what and how you eat may be … An additional note – a few people who read the original article informed me that they were given B12 shots by their doctors before and after surgery to help in their recovery. A whipple procedure is surgery to remove the head of the pancreas, part of the small bowel, part of the bile duct system, and part of the stomach. A typical Whipple Procedure will take three to eight hours, depending on the complexity of the operation and the complications that may arise during surgery. Then a few months back he started struggling with eating much, had terrible diarrhoea , bloating & extreme tiredness. 8. The Whipple procedure takes its name from Allen Whipple, an American doctor who first performed the surgery in the 1930s. Other symptoms include an increased feeling of being tired and weight loss. Give your father time to heal more - it's such radical surgery - My husband's GP said he was her first Whipple - many GPs never see one. Surgery for bile duct cancer is a major operation that might mean removing parts of other organs. Occasionally, a small part of the stomach is also removed. This can occur after a Whipple surgery due to the pancreas producing less insulin. This can have a major effect on a person’s recovery and health after the surgery. Whipple’s procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy or PD) The Whipple’s procedure is an operation. You can expect a slow and somewhat painful recovery. This covers diagnosis, preparation for surgery, and recovery in the hospital and after discharge. The first part of the ... recovery. Supplement Your Whipple Surgery Recovery Diet. The next day (second day after surgery), you will have a solid diet. We have had many members on Connect post about the Whipple procedure. The 5-day Whipple accelerated recovery pathway (WARP) reduced length of stay without significantly increasing complication rates. In summary, it is best to follow these guidelines for the first 4-6 weeks after surgery. Departments with related expertise. My dad had whipple procedure done almost 2 years ago, and has been doing amazing. Medicines will be available to help you through the recovery. It is also used for the treatment of pancreatic or duodenal trauma, or chronic pancreatitis. Some people refer to it as a pancreaticoduodenectomy instead. I recall asking similar questions on this site back at that time and I remember everyone said to take it slow, very, very slow. During the complex operation, surgeons remove the upper section of the small intestine, the gallbladder, the head of the pancreas, a section of the bile duct and sometimes the lower section of the stomach. The road to recovery, "outstanding" nursing care, and family support "I remember waking up in the recovery room — the Whipple is a long procedure, 7 or 8 hours — and Dr. Dickerman made sure I was moved to a quiet room quickly where I could be surrounded by my … The Whipple procedure can be life-saving surgery, but it is also life-altering. Not only is the normal anatomy complex, but individual anomalies are frequent among the various blood vessels and ducts in … A Whipple procedure is extensive surgery and usually lasts 5–8 hours. The Whipple Pathway helps patients understand what to expect through various stages of their surgical journey. Because the Whipple surgery is a complex procedure, it's important to be treated by a highly experienced surgical team. Even minimally invasive surgery still involves an operation, recovery time, and a hospital stay. The region of the body where the pancreas lies is very busy and complicated anatomically. Your medical team will make a plan for your diet every day. But a Whipple procedure is a very complex operation that often causes major changes to the digestive system. The diet plan will be based on how well you are doing after surgery and may change. In one case the surgery wasn’t even a whipple but an extensive intestinal surgery. Depending on the type and stage of the tumor, patients may undergo outpatient chemotherapy before or after surgery, or both. You will be able to have ice chips and sips of water on the night of surgery. As your surgeon will explain, there is a small chance of serious complications, such as major bleeding or leaking from one of the joins between the removed parts. In another, it was an extensive spinal surgery. The Whipple removes and reconstructs a large part of the gastrointestinal tract and is a difficult and complex operation. Surgery to treat pancreatic cancer can remove cancerous tumors and has the potential to extend life. I feel for you watching your Dad in pain, I found it very distressing. This surgery is also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy. The pancreas is a gland attached to the small intestine. Steps of the Whipple Surgery . Presented by Roswell Park’s Patient Education Department. It is one of the most common types of surgery for pancreatic cancer. Lynne’s experience of recovering from a Whipple’s procedure 1 July 2012 My surgery took place in October 2009 and my recovery took rather longer than expected and … The surgery is named for Dr. Allan Oldfather Whipple, who pioneered the procedure. Dr. Horacio Asbun, Mayo Clinic in Florida, explains the Whipple procedure using this animated graphic of a pancreas. The Whipple procedure is also called pancreaticoduodenectomy.