Surgery of the pancreas

Pancreatic operations are highly specialized surgical procedures performed by specially trained gastrointestinal surgeons. For these reasons, pancreatic surgery is usually offered in hospitals in metro cities at a steep price. In this scenario, the services of the Department of Gastro Intestinal (GI) Surgery at J Watumull Global Hospital & Research Centre come as a welcome relief for patients needing surgery of the pancreas because we offer a distinct price advantage – we charge 40 to 50 percent less than private hospitals in cities without compromising on the quality of care. Dr Diliip Kothari performs surgery of the pancreas at J Watumull Global Hospital & Research Centre. Email him at ghrcabu@gmail.com to book an appointment.

We offer surgery for the following diseases of the pancreas:

Pancreatic cancer:
Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple’s operation) – This operation is performed to treat cancerous tumours on the head of the pancreas, malignant tumours involving the common bile duct or duodenum near the pancreas. Pancreaticoduodenectomy is a major surgical procedure.

Chronic pancreatitis:
Chronic pancreatitis happens when the pancreas sustain widespread injury – extensive scaring or even destruction. The condition is mostly frequently associated with alcohol abuse and excessive smoking. However, the condition may also develop without any apparent cause. Patients with chronic pancreatitis are at risk for developing the following problems:

• Severe longstanding pain
• Blockage of pancreatic duct, bile duct and intestine
• Cancer of pancreas
• Pseudocyst
• Indigestion & malabsorption of food
• Diabetes

We offer the following procedures for chronic pancreatitis:

• Whipple's operation
• Puestow (Drainage procedure)
• Beger’s procedure to resection the head of the pancreas – a useful procedure as it provides relief from the severe pain accompanying chronic pancreatitis in approximately 80% of patients
• Frey’s procedure, which involves performing both a pancreatic head resection procedure as well as a drainage procedure to core out the diseased parts of the head of the pancreas. A lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (LRLPJ) is then performed wherein a loop of the jejunum is mobilized and attached to the exposed pancreatic duct to allow better drainage of the pancreas, including its head.

Acute pancreatitis:
Acute pancreatitis is sudden inflammation of the pancreas. Depending on its severity, it can have severe complications and may result in mortality. The most common cause of death in acute pancreatitis is secondary infection. While mild cases are often successfully treated with conservative measures, such as NPO (nil by mouth or NBM) and IV fluid rehydration, severe cases may require admission to the ICU or even surgery (often requiring more than one intervention) to deal with complications of the disease. Surgery is indicated for (i) infected pancreatic necrosis and (ii) complications like bleeding. We offer Necrosectomy procedure for this condition to remove the dead infected pancreas.

Pseudocysts:
A pancreatic pseudocyst is a collection of fluid around the pancreas. The fluid in the cyst is usually pancreatic juice that has leaked out of a damaged pancreatic duct. Pancreatic pseudocysts arise after acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis. In the surgical procedure for the treatment of pseudocyst a connection is created between the cyst and an adjacent intestinal organ to which the cyst is adherent to, such as the stomach. This connection allows the cyst to drain into the stomach. Pancreatic pseudocysts are operated on by a laparoscopic procedure or open surgery.