The Whipple procedure, also called pancreatoduodenectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy or Kausch-Whipple, is surgery for pancreatic cancer. It is a major surgical operation with risks and complications, but in most cases increases the survival rate for people with pancreatic cancer.

Procedure

The head of the pancreas is removed in the Whipple procedure. The gallbladder, the duodenum, the end of the bile duct and sometimes the stomach are removed as part of the procedure.

Risks

Fewer than 15 percent of people die due to Whipple procedure complications when the surgery is performed in a small hospital with less experienced surgeons, while fewer than 5 percent die when the procedure is done by an experienced surgeon, according to the American Cancer Society. The overall survival is 2 percent at five years after the Whipple procedure, reports the Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases at the University of Southern California.

Warning

You should have your Whipple procedure done at a hospital that performs many of these surgeries for the best outcome, according to the American Cancer Society.

Short-Term Complications

Surgical complications can include infection, bleeding, stomach emptying problems, diabetes and operational connection leakages.

Long-Term Complications

Long-term complications include mal-absorption of food, dietary changes and weight loss. The initial weight loss is about 5 to 10 percent, but then stabilizes, states the Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases at the University of Southern California.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Whipple Procedure

University of Southern California, Department of Surgery: Whipple Operation

American Cancer Society Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

More Information:

National Center for Biotechnology Information: Improved hospital morbidity, mortality, and survival