Pancreas Surgery

Distal pancreatectomy

It is the removal of the distal part of the pancreas. It can be performed with or without splenectomy (removal of the spleen). It consists of the removal of the body and tail of the pancreas, which may or may not include the spleen.

​

Duodenopancreatectomy

Whipple surgery or pancreatoduodenectomy is performed to remove tumors located in the head of the pancreas. The organs that are normally resected are: the head of the pancreas, duodenum, part of the stomach, part of the bile duct, gallbladder, and the lymph nodes near these organs.  

​

Central pancreatectomy

It is the removal of the pancreatic cervix – the central region between head and body.

Enucleation

Enucleation is removed only from the pancreatic tumor by enucleating the nodule without removing the pancreatic parenchyma. This procedure is only possible for some tumors such as insulinoma.

Robotic Surgery

All these pancreas surgeries  can be performed using the technique of Minimally Invasive Surgery or Robotic Surgery. This technique allows surgery to be performed with smaller incisions in the abdominal wall, less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery than open surgery. However, the  indication of this technique will depend on the experience of the surgical team, the type of tumor, size and location of the lesion.  

​

Reconstruction

After resection of the tumor and organs described above, reconstruction of the intestinal transit is necessary. This reconstruction is performed through several anastomoses (splices) between the pancreas,  bile duct and the stomach and intestine (jejunum) for food and bilio-pancreatic secretions to pass through the intestine again.