The Whipple procedure is also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Named after surgeon Allen Whipple, who perfected the technique starting in the 1935, the Whipple procedure involves removing the head of pancreas and the duodenum. This is usually done to treat irreversible diseases of the pancreas and duodenum, such as cancer.
The pancreas and duodenum, the upper most section of the small intestine are located right under the stomach. The duodenum, wrapping around the head of the pancreas, is where most of the chemical digestion in the body takes place. The pancreatic duct and gall bladder feed into the duodenum, and secrete most of the digestive and endocrine enzymes in the body.
What Is The Whipple Procedure
Because both the pancreas and a duodenum are affected by the same blood supply, the pancreaticoduodenal artery, the removal of the head of the pancreas affects the blood supply of the duodenum. Studies show that if only the pancreas is removed the duodenum will begin to experience necrosis and digestion will be complicated. This makes in necessary for the Whipple procedure to remove both organs, as well as the gall bladder, bile duct, and regional lymph nodes.
To allow the digestive and endocrine to continue functioning properly without the important organs of the pancreas and the duodenum, Whipple procedure surgeons must first attach the next section of the intestine, the jejunum, to the stomach. The duct that connected the liver the duodenum is reconnected directly into the jejunum, without the bile duct attached. The cut section of the pancreas is also sutured back into the intestine to allow the flow if enzymes to resume.
The Whipple procedure is a well-documented and relatively safe, but complex, surgery. The recovery time is rather short and people usually return to their normal diet and level of activity afterwards.