There are three types of pancreatic cancer surgery that may be used to take out the tumor:
The Whipple procedure
Distal pancreatectomy
Total pancreatectomy.
Whipple Procedure
If the tumor is in the head (the widest part) of the pancreas, the surgeon will remove the head of the pancreas and part of the small intestine, bile duct, and stomach. This is known as a Whipple procedure. The surgeon may also remove other nearby tissues. However, the surgeon will leave enough of the pancreas in the body to produce digestive juices and insulin.
Distal Pancreatectomy
In a distal pancreatectomy, the surgeon will remove the body and the tail of the pancreas depending on where the tumor is located. The surgeon will also remove the spleen.
Total Pancreatectomy
In a total pancreatectomy, the surgeon will remove:
The entire pancreas
Part of the small intestine
A portion of the stomach
The common bile duct
The gallbladder
The spleen
Nearby lymph nodes.
Pancreatic Cancer Surgery: Palliative Therapy
If the cancer has spread and cannot be removed, palliative pancreatic cancer surgery may be done to relieve symptoms of the disease. Palliative pancreatic cancer surgery options include:
Surgical biliary bypass
Endoscopic stent placement
Gastric bypass.
Surgical Biliary Bypass
A biliary bypass may be performed if cancer is blocking the small intestine and bile is building up in the gallbladder. During a biliary bypass, the doctor will cut the gallbladder or bile duct and sew it to the small intestine to create a new pathway around the blocked area.
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