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Pancreatectomy

(Central Pancreatectomy; Distal Pancreatectomy; Total Pancreatectomy)

by Sarah J. Kerr, BA

Home | Health Information Center | Procedure & Surgery Fact Sheets | Article

Definition

Reasons for Procedure

Possible Complications

What to Expect

Call Your Doctor

En Español

Definition

The pancreas is a long, flat, pear-shaped organ located behind the stomach. It makes digestive enzymes and hormones, including insulin.

The Pancreas

This is surgery to remove the pancreas. In this procedure, all or part of the pancreas can be removed. In some cases, other nearby structures may also be removed such as:

Gallbladder
Spleen
Part of the stomach or small intestine
Nearby lymph nodes

Reasons for Procedure

This procedure is done to treat certain health conditions, such as pancreatic cancer or pancreatic necrosis due to pancreatitis.

Possible Complications

Problems from the procedure are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will review potential problems, like:

Leakage of pancreatic enzymes into the abdomen
Infection
Bleeding
Damage to other organs in the abdomen

Before your procedure, talk to your doctor about ways to manage factors that may increase your risk of complications such as:

Smoking
Drinking
Chronic disease such as diabetes or obesity
Poor nutrition

The pancreas produces many necessary digestive enzymes and helps regulate blood sugar. When part of the pancreas is removed, long-term complications may result, such as:

Diabetes
Malabsorption problems

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

If you have cancer, chemo- or radiation therapy may be done to reduce the size of a tumor before surgery.

Leading up to the procedure, your doctor may do the following:

Physical exam
Blood tests
Imaging studies to better locate the cancer or area of necrosis

Talk to your doctor about your medications. You may be asked to stop taking some medications up to one week before the procedure.

You should arrange for a ride to and from the hospital and have someone stay with you the first night.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia will be used. You will be asleep through the surgery.

Description of the Procedure

An incision will be made in the abdomen. The affected part of the pancreas, as well as other affected areas, will be removed. The incision will be closed with stitches or staples.

Tubes may be placed that come out of the abdomen. A tube will drain fluid from the surgery site.

If only a part of the pancreas needs to be removed, your doctor may do the surgery laparoscopically. Small incisions will be made and a camera will be inserted. This will help the doctor see inside the abdomen to remove the affected part of the pancreas.

How Long Will It Take?

The surgery can take 4-8 hours, depending on what part or how much of the pancreas is removed.

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will block pain during the procedure. You will have pain after the procedure. Ask your doctor about medication to help manage pain.

Average Hospital Stay

You may need to stay in the hospital from 5 days to 3 weeks. This depends on the extent of your surgery. If you have any problems, you will need to stay longer.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

Right after the procedure, you will be in a recovery room where your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing will be monitored. Recovery may also include:

Pain medications
Medication to prevent blood clots
Insulin to control your blood sugar

You will be encouraged to be mobile as soon as possible. This start as soon as the first day after your surgery.

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to reduce your chance of infection such as:

Washing their hands
Wearing gloves or masks
Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to reduce your chances of infection such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and healthcare providers to do the same
Reminding your healthcare providers to wear gloves or masks
Not allowing others to touch your incisions

At Home

Depending on how much of your pancreas was taken, it may not make adequate amounts of enzymes for your body. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend a special diet, supplements, or other medications.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if any of these occur:

Signs of infection, including fever or chills
Redness, swelling, increasing pain, bleeding, or discharge from the incision
Pain that you cannot control with the medications you were given
Persistent nausea or vomiting
New or worsening diarrhea—this may indicate you are not digesting enzymes properly

If you have symptoms of diabetes, call your doctor. You may need to have your insulin dose adjusted. Symptoms include:

Extreme thirst
Frequent urination
Difficulty controlling urination
Increased urination at night
Extreme hunger
New or worsening fatigue

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.

RESOURCES:

National Cancer Institute
https://www.cancer.gov

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
https://www.pancan.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.ca

Pancreatic Cancer Canada
http://www.pancreaticcancercanada.ca

References:

Management of pancreatic cancer. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed... . Updated September 15, 2017. Accessed December 21, 2017.

Surgical techniques for pancreas preservation. University of Southern California Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed December 21, 2017.

Surgery. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network website. Available at: https://www.pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/treatment/surgery. Accessed December 21, 2017.

Surgery for pancreatic cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/treating/surgery.html. Updated May 31, 2016. Accessed December 21, 2017.

Last reviewed November 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael Woods, MD, FAAP
Last Updated: 12/20/2014

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