Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery is used to treat diseases of the pancreas using minimally invasive surgical techniques. Minimally invasive procedures are significantly less invasive for the patient due to smaller incisions. Depending on the diagnosis, various surgical procedures are available to patients.
Here you will find further information as well as a selection of specialists and centers for laparoscopic pancreatic surgery.
Laparoscopy is used to examine body cavities and hollow organs in the abdominal cavity from the inside, that is, without opening the abdominal wall.
A laparoscope is used for this procedure: it is a thin tube with a small camera attached to its end. The surgeon inserts it into the abdominal cavity through a hollow instrument (trocar) and can thus assess changes in the organs and their surrounding areas.
Certain surgical procedures can also be performed during laparoscopy. To do this, the surgeon inserts surgical instruments through the laparoscope. Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery is used to treat certain diseases of the pancreas.
Indications for laparoscopic pancreatic surgery include tumors and chronic inflammation of the pancreas. It is therefore a minimally invasive treatment option for pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.
Partial or complete removal of the pancreas is the primary treatment option for patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer. Depending on the extent and size of the tumor, the surgeons remove:
Surgeons today generally avoid the removal of parts of the stomach, which was common in the past. This preserves normal food intake, which significantly improves patients’ quality of life after surgery.
The goal of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery is
Surgeons have various methods at their disposal for laparoscopic pancreatic surgery in patients with tumors. Which method offers the best chance of success depends not only on individual factors but also on the location and extent of the tumor tissue.
Possible surgical procedures include:
In the Whipple procedure, the surgeon removes
To preserve as much of the digestive function as possible, the surgeon then connects the remaining pancreas to the remaining posterior wall of the stomach or to the jejunum. He then creates anastomoses between the biliary drainage system and the jejunum, as well as between the residual stomach and a loop of the jejunum. If the Whipple procedure is successful, patients are considered cured.
In a pylorus-preserving pancreatic head resection, the surgeon removes the head of the pancreas and other organs. However, the pylorus (the gatekeeper of the stomach, or the stomach’s sphincter) and the entire stomach are preserved. Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection involves excising the head of the pancreas. The bile ducts are preserved, and the remaining pancreas is connected to the duodenum.
In a left pancreatectomy, the surgeon gains access to the pancreas from the left side or through an upper abdominal incision. Through this approach, the surgeon removes the pancreatic tail as well as parts of the pancreatic body.
The surgical procedure in which the entire pancreas is removed is called a pancreatectomy. Surgeons opt for this when the entire organ is affected by pathological changes. This is often due to a tumor, but severe, treatment-resistant pancreatitis is also an indication for a pancreatectomy.
Any laparoscopic procedure involving the pancreas places a strain on the body. Patients should therefore take it easy after such an operation. Avoid physical exertion for a few weeks. Alcohol consumption promotes inflammation of the pancreas. Therefore, you should also avoid alcohol for some time after the procedure.
However, light exercise and activity are permitted and recommended as early as the day after surgery: they help prevent postoperative pneumonia.
Follow-up care is also an important consideration: Patients should undergo CT scans at regular intervals. These checkups are intended to detect any potential metastases at an early stage.
Most pancreatic surgeries are complex procedures. They carry a certain risk of damage to surrounding organs and structures. This primarily affects nerves and blood vessels in the surgical area, which can lead to bleeding, postoperative hemorrhage, or functional impairment.
In rare cases, leakage of bodily fluids can lead to peritonitis. Scars at the suture sites or on the abdominal wall sometimes cause pulling or pressure pain. Very rarely, they can cause an intestinal obstruction.
The prognosis after surgery depends on the diagnosis and individual factors. The earlier pancreatic cancer is detected, the better the chances of recovery after the procedure.
The minimally invasive technique of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery is gentler on patients than conventional surgery.
Various procedures are available, which are selected based on the diagnosis and the extent of the disease.
After surgery, patients should take it easy for a while and plan for a hospital stay of ten to fourteen days. In some cases, it makes sense to adjust one’s diet after the procedure, as the body may no longer be able to produce sufficient amounts of important digestive enzymes.
Every physician listed in the Leading Medicine Guide has attained the highest level of training and certification within their respective medical specialty society. Furthermore, we contacted this physician based, among other factors, on their case volume (surgeries, treatments, and therapies), which we determined by cross-referencing various publicly available sources. Following discussions with the selected physicians and the directors of the medical facilities, as well as a subsequent internal review, they were admitted to the Leading Medicine Guide.
The quality assurance of the Leading Medicine Guide is further ensured by 8 admission criteria. Each member must meet at least 6 of them:
