If you need to have surgery on your pancreas, you probably have a number of questions racing around in your head, especially since many people are unfamiliar with the functions of the organ. That’s why we want to share some answers to some of the more common questions we hear when someone is told they need to have their pancreas operated on. Here are eight common questions and answers about pancreas surgery.
Why would someone need to have surgery on their pancreas?
The most common reasons someone needs to have their pancreas operated on is because of severe pancreatitis, pancreatic tumors or pancreatic cancer.
What is Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is a condition characterized by inflammation in the pancreas. Pancreatitis typically comes in two forms, acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis involves the sudden onset of inflammation, while chronic involves long-lasting pancreatic inflammation. Surgery is more likely with chronic pancreatitis.
What should I do before pancreas surgery?
To assist your surgical team and put yourself in a better position to recover after surgery, some things you should do in the days leading up to surgery include:
- Make a list of all current medications
- Make sure you follow any pre-surgical restrictions
- Write down any current symptoms
- Make plans for after-surgery care with friends or family
- Come up with any questions you’d like to ask you doctor
What kind of questions should I ask my surgical team?
Some common questions to ask your pancreatic surgery team include: What restrictions will I have after surgery? What will my rehab look like? When will I be able to return home? Will I need additional testing in the weeks after surgery? What is the success rate? How many times have you performed this specific operation?
What are the risks/complications associated with pancreas surgery?
The most common complications of pancreas surgery involve leaking of the pancreatic juices from the incision, bleeding and an infection of the surgical site.
How are surgical complications fixed?
Because surgeons know what complications to look for during and after an operation, they have become well-versed in treating the complications. Leakage is often resolved by draining the fluid with a well-placed needle, bleeding can be addressed with medications or sutures, and infections are controlled with antibiotics and exercise, because lack of movement often contributes to the infection.
What is removed during a total pancreatectomy?
A total pancreatectomy is used to treat pancreatic cancer, and it involves removing the whole pancreas, your duodenum, part of the stomach, your gallbladder, part of your bile duct, your spleen and some of the surrounding lymph nodes. Surprisingly, your body can function without all the above organs.
What is the recovery timetable like after pancreas surgery?
This depends on your specific operation, but full recovery after pancreas removal/resectioning takes about two months. Talk to your surgeon for a better idea of your exact timeline.
