Whipple Procedure
Whipple Procedure
A Whipple procedure, also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy, is a complex operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder, and the bile duct.
The pancreas is a vital organ that lies in the upper abdomen, behind your stomach, and works closely with the liver and the ducts that carry bile. It releases enzymes that help you digest food, especially fats and protein, and secretes hormones that help manage blood sugar levels.
The Whipple procedure is used to treat tumors and other pancreas, intestine, and bile duct disorders. It is the most widely used surgical approach for treating pancreatic cancer that’s confined to the head of the pancreas. The procedure is used to remove cancerous tumors, prevent them from growing and stop their spread to other organs. For many of the cancers that it treats, the Whipple procedure is the only intervention with the potential to provide patients a prolonged survival or cure.

How Does Whipple work?
Whipple procedures can be carried out in several ways:
Open surgery
During an open procedure, your surgeon makes an incision in your abdomen to access your pancreas.
Laparoscopic surgery
During laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon makes several small incisions in your abdomen and inserts special instruments, including a camera that transmits video to a monitor in the operating room. The surgeon uses the monitor to help him guide the surgical tools while performing the procedure.
Robotic surgery
Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive procedure performed using a robotic surgical system controlled by the surgeon through a dedicated console. A surgical robot can operate in tight spaces where human hands may be too large to be effective, allow for greater precision and control, and negate the need for large incisions.
Minimally invasive procedures offer patients several benefits, such as fewer opportunities for blood loss, a smaller chance of infection, and an easier, less painful recovery. However, it also takes longer, which can be hard on the body. In some cases, a procedure can begin as a minimally invasive surgery, but complications or technical difficulties require the surgeon to make an open incision to finish the operation.
Upon completing the Whipple procedure, your surgeon reconnects the remaining organs so that you can digest food normally.
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Related Doctors

Academic experience: 2015-present, lecturer at the Tel-Aviv

Dr. David Hazzan manages the minimally invasive and robotic

Dr. Barak Rosenzweig is a senior physician in the Department

Prof. Eytan Mor is an expert in kidney, liver and pancreas t
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