Type of Surgery
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Last updated: 11/24/2009
A pancreatectomy is the surgical removal of the pancreas. A pancreatectomy may be total, in which case the entire organ is removed, usually along with the spleen, gallbladder, common bile duct, and portions of the small intestine and stomach. A pancreatectomy...
may also be distal, meaning that only the body and tail of the pancreas are removed, leaving the head of the organ attached. When the duodenum is removed along with all or part of the pancreas, the procedure is called a pancreaticoduodenectomy, which surgeons sometimes refer to as "Whipple's procedure." Pancreaticoduodenectomies are increasingly used to treat a variety of malignant and benign diseases of the pancreas. This procedure often involves removal of the regional lymph nodes as well.
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Pancreatectomy is a medical term referring to surgical removal of part or all of the pancreas.
The most common surgical procedure is called pancreaticoduodenectomy. Among common consequences of complete or nearly complete pancreatectomy are deficiencies of pancreatic endocrine or exocrine function requiring replacement of insulin or digestive enzymes. The patient becomes immediately, a type I diabetic, with no hope for future Type I diabetes treatements, since the pancreas is either partially or completely absent. Type I diabetes is one of the hardest diseases to maintain and mortality is very high. Pancreatectomy should NEVER be given as an option for pancreatic disease who's main symptom is pain. It is very important to note that even after pancreatectomy, pain still exists in most patients.
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