At Penn Medicine, we specialize in the latest surgical options to treat all types of pancreatic cancers.
Our team of nationally recognized pancreatic cancer specialists regularly meets to collaborate on each patient's case. They pool their expertise, skill and experience to create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.
What Is the Whipple Procedure (Pancreatoduodenectomy)?
The Whipple procedure, also referred to as pancreatoduodenectomy, is surgery to remove tumors on the right side (also called the head) of your pancreas. Whipple procedures are the most common surgical treatment for pancreatic cancer. This surgery is also used to remove other types of tumors, including bile duct cancers, ampullary cancers, duodenal cancers, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and premalignant/malignant cysts.
The Whipple is a challenging surgery to perform. Doctors remove the head of the pancreas (the part next to the small bowel and bile ducts), part of the small intestine, part of the bile duct, the gallbladder and associated lymph nodes.
Our experienced surgeons are highly skilled in Whipple procedures. And they do a lot of them — about two-thirds of pancreas operations done at Penn are Whipples. Our patients are more likely to experience the best possible outcomes because of this special expertise.
Pancreatic Cancer Surgery: Why Choose Penn Medicine?
As an ultra-high volume center for pancreatic cancer surgeries, we perform hundreds of these procedures each year — more than most centers in the region. Our specialized surgeons, operating room staff, nurses and anesthesiologists have years of experience performing these complex surgeries. This knowledge helps us deliver the best possible outcomes.
We also offer:
- Expertise: Pancreatic cancer surgeries are among the most technically challenging and impactful. Our team includes renowned, highly-trained experts in these procedures. Our surgeons are academic leaders who have been recognized for their knowledge, precision and outcomes in performing complex surgeries. Their leadership means our patients experience personalized treatment plans, faster recoveries and fewer complications.
- Minimally invasive options: Our doctors do some pancreatic cancer surgeries using minimally invasive methods. These procedures, such as distal pancreatectomy, offer smaller incisions and easier recoveries.
- Multidisciplinary approach: Procedures to remove the pancreas are complex because pancreatic tumors can affect other body structures. Our pancreatic cancer surgeons routinely perform these more complicated surgeries with other specialists, including vascular surgeons who can reconstruct affected blood vessels. Their teamwork ensures the best possible outcomes in even the most difficult cases.
- Clinical trials: Our Pancreatic Cancer Research Center is a leading-edge program to discover new ways to improve pancreatic cancer care. No matter the tumor's stage, patients have access to the latest therapies and clinical trials.
- Enhanced recoveries: To ensure smooth recoveries, we use enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols. ERAS protocols are methods doctors use to manage your pain and consolidate your care. They also help you get home sooner after surgery.
- Nutrition support: Nutrition management is an important part of a successful recovery. Our advanced practice providers (APPs) and registered dietitians provide nutrition counseling before and after pancreatic cancer surgery. This support and education help you overcome and manage both short- and long-term issues as you adjust to life post surgery.
Types of Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
Doctors often diagnose pancreatic cancer after it has spread and can't be removed. That's why only about 25 percent of patients are candidates for pancreatic cancer surgery.
If pancreatic cancer surgery is part of your treatment plan, you most likely will receive chemotherapy, as well. The size and location of the tumor determines whether it will be before surgery, after surgery or both.
We offer the following surgical options to treat pancreatic cancer:
Distal Pancreatectomy
If you have a tumor on the left side of your pancreas, we may perform a distal pancreatectomy. During this procedure, surgeons remove the body (middle) and tail (end) of the pancreas and usually the spleen.
Total Pancreatectomy
A total pancreatectomy is the removal of the entire pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, part of the bile duct, and some of the small intestine and possibly stomach. It is the least common pancreatic cancer surgery. Doctors often use total pancreatectomies to treat conditions that may turn into pancreatic cancer.
While you can live without a pancreas, your body can no longer produce insulin and enzymes that aid in digestion. If you have a total pancreatectomy, you need to take insulin and enzyme supplements for the rest of your life.
Enucleation
While most pancreatic tumors are adenocarcinomas, some are neuroendocrine tumors (NET). For NETs, we may perform a procedure called enucleation in certain, select circumstances. During enucleation, your surgeon removes just the tumor, leaving your pancreas intact.
The Abramson Cancer Center offers one of the only dedicated NET programs in the U.S. It is the first and only one of its kind in the mid-Atlantic region. Our program features a team of experts in surgery, gastroenterology, nuclear medicine, medical oncology, radiation oncology and interventional radiology — all working together to provide the best care possible to people who have NETs.
What to Expect From Your Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
Before Surgery
When preparing for pancreatic cancer surgery, we first ensure you are medically fit for a complex surgery. If the tumor is too big for us to safely remove, or contains critical blood vessels, you may also receive chemotherapy to try to shrink it.
During Surgery
Pancreatic cancer surgeries usually last two to six hours. You can expect to recover in the hospital for about a week after your procedure.
After Surgery
You'll recover in the hospital for several days. Most patients are discharged to home.
Most people are about 75 percent recovered when they leave the hospital, but it takes about three months to fully recover from pancreatic cancer surgery. While most people lose weight during recovery, our APPs and registered dietitians support you throughout your recovery to keep you as healthy as possible.
Your Penn surgical team will follow you for a year or more to ensure you get the additional care you may need, including treatment and support from world-class specialists in our Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism program.
Request an Appointment
Call 800-789-7366 or request a callback.