A pancreatectomy involves surgically removing the entire or a portion of the pancreas. The pancreas is a component of your digestive system. Its two primary purpose is to produces hormones that assist in controlling blood sugar levels and storing food-derived energy, and produces enzymes which help in the breakdown of food for digestion.
The most common reasons for pancreatectomy are cancer and severe chronic pancreatitis. Your digestive system may suffer permanent effects if all or a portion of your pancreas is removed. You might now need to take digestive enzymes and insulin.
The shape of your pancreas is similar to that of a fish, with a broad “head,” a medium “body,” and a narrower “tail.” The pancreas may be removed in sections, or in whole, depending on the operation. It is occasionally necessary to remove surrounding veins and organs as well.
The two most frequent causes for which healthcare providers suggest a pancreatectomy are tumors and pancreatitis. When a tumor is removed from the pancreas, the chance of it spreading to other areas of your body is decreased. When your pancreas gets inflamed, you get pancreatitis. Severe discomfort and other consequences may result from it, and this may be a sign that a pancreatectomy is necessary.
A pancreatectomy may be used to treat the following conditions:
The surgical procedure may include the following risk:
There could be a few things you need to do in the days leading up to surgery. Among them could be:
Your anesthesiologist will administer anesthetic through an IV line in your arm when it’s time for surgery, and your healthcare team will assist you onto the operating bed. You’ll go to sleep as a result of the anesthesia. You will still receive fluids, medication, and nourishment through your IV.
While you’re unconscious, the healthcare provider will insert a number of tubes to support your body. There will be a tube in your stomach to stop nausea and one in your windpipe to assist you in breathing. You will have tubes in your abdominal cavity to drain extra fluid, and a Foley catheter to drain urine.
Open surgery is used for the majority of pancreatectomy, providing easy access to multiple organs at once. Some medical facilities might be able to carry out specific pancreatectomy using robotic or minimally invasive surgery techniques like laparoscopic surgery. These techniques facilitate faster recovery.
During open surgery, the abdominal cavity is opened by making a single, lengthy incision across your abdomen. Whether your operation is robotic or laparoscopic, the healthcare provider performing it might make several tiny “keyhole” incisions. They will use a laparoscope and lengthy instruments to perform surgery.
A distal or central pancreatectomy requires four hours to complete. Whipple’s procedure, or a total pancreatectomy, takes roughly six hours.
After the procedure, you will be transferred to a hospital room, and your healthcare team will keep a close eye on your vital signs and general condition. Some of your tubes may still be in place, but they will probably be taken out in the next several days. You may spend a little longer in the hospital than a week.
You will gradually wean off of your on-demand pain medication during your stay. On the first day following surgery, you will be helped out of bed, and each day you will be able to move around a bit more. You’ll move up to more solid foods gradually from a liquid diet. At first, you can feel constipated.
Following your pancreatectomy, your healthcare team will also be keeping a watch on your blood glucose levels and digestion. They must be aware of your lower pancreatic function and how you are doing. They will make the necessary adjustments to the medications and diet.
A pancreatectomy is advised if deemed necessary by your healthcare providers, typically for cases such as pancreatic cancer. This procedure can potentially extend your life and may be the only viable option when other conditions are causing persistent problems.
After a total pancreatectomy, or any pancreatectomy in which a significant portion of the pancreas is removed to affect its functionality, you will experience lasting effects. In addition, issues from losing other organs that require removal during your pancreatectomy could occur. Among these includes the following:
Depending on your preoperative condition, the type of surgery you had—open or minimally invasive—and the complexity of the procedure, your recovery at home could take four to eight weeks.
It is recommended to call your healthcare provider if you experience the following: