Types of Pancreas surgery

The pancreas plays an important role in human digestion. One of its major functions is to release the hormones insulin and glucagon that regulate the blood sugar level. The diseases and disorders of pancreas like pancreatitis are less common, and the treatment requires no surgery. However, a surgery is inevitable when treating a severe disorder or removing a tumor.

Open surgery and laparoscopy are the options available for the pancreas surgery. Open surgery involves either the removal of a certain part of the pancreas where the tumor is growing or the removal of other parts of digestive organs as well like gall bladder, stomach, small intestine, and common bile duct. The type of surgery depends upon the stage of cancer.

Whipple Procedure:

Whipple procedure or pancreatic resection involves the removal of the pancreatic head, duodenum of the small intestine, gall bladder and bile duct. This surgical procedure treats pancreatic cancer and other disorders of the pancreas. Whipple procedure is a complex and risky surgical treatment, but very effective and life-saving for treating pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, bile duct cancer, serious trauma or injury in the pancreas and ampullary cancer.

Distal Pancreatectomy:

The name of the procedure that involves the removal the left side of the pancreas ( body and tail) to eradicate the growing tumor is distal pancreatectomy. Your surgeon might need to remove the spleen attached with pancreas as well.

Total Pancreatectomy:

Total pancreatectomy is the removal of the pancreas when tumor has spread all over the pancreas. Other common procedures cannot treat this issue. You can live without pancreas normally. However, you will need a supply of insulin, glucagon, and other important hormones and enzymes.

Laparoscopy Surgery for the Pancreas:

Minimal Invasive Laparoscopy for pancreas involves removing the tumor or a small part of the pancreas with small incisions. Your surgeon will make three to four keyhole incisions in your pancreas and remove the infected or injured portion with tumor growth.

Pseudocyst Drainage:

The pancreatic disorder includes the production of cysts in the pancreas. Cysts in the pancreas are large fluid-filled sacks that can disturb the normal functioning of the pancreas and can even turn cancerous. Pseudocyst drainage involves inserting a tube or needle into the cysts or pseudocysts to drain the cysts from the pancreas.

Islet Cell Transplant:

Islet cells in the pancreas are responsible for the production of insulin. Impairment in islet cells leads to an insufficient production of insulin leading to Diabetes type 1. Islet cell transplantation can potentially cure diabetes. Healthy islet cells from the donor are harvested and transplanted into the pancreas of the patient.

Risks of Pancreatic Surgery:

To have the best outcome of the pancreas surgery, it is crucial to have the surgery from a highly qualified and experienced surgeon. In rare cases, there can be come complications. The complications include bleeding, infection, development of diabetes ( temporary or permanent), leaking, etc. if the surgeon fails to join the organs after removing multiple parts from the digestive system. The pancreas surgery can lead to weight loss and change in the bowel functions.

Lenox Hill Surgeons have NYC’s best and most qualified surgeons for treating pancreatic cancers and disorders. With Lenox Hill Surgeons your pancreatic surgeries are complication-free. We promise to provide you the best treatment for your surgery and quick recovery.

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