Overview

The sole option for extending survival after pancreatic cancer surgery is resection. Technically complex pancreatic resections provide a high risk of postoperative complications, with pancreatic fistula ranking as the most serious of them. Several prophylactic pharmaceutical approaches, as well as mechanical interventions, have been recommended in the prevention of pancreatic fistula. Risk factors for the development of pancreatic leakage are now well documented.

The majority of the time, problems can be treated conservatively with better postoperative care and better radiological treatments. In addition, this study makes an effort to address some of the issues surrounding the best ways to treat the pancreatic remnant following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery

✶ Primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)

✶ Liver abscess or liver tumors of uncertain nature

✶ Adenoma

✶ Focal nodular hyperplasia

✶ Hemangioma

✶ Stricture (narrowing) or obstruction (blockage) of the bile ducts

✶ Injury to the liver or bile ducts

✶ Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)

✶ Gallbladder cancer

✶ Cysts of the bile duct, liver and pancreas

✶ Polycystic liver disease

✶ Liver failure or cirrhosis

✶ Portal hypertension

Staging Laparoscopy

The stage (extent) of the cancer must be known in order to choose the optimum form of surgery. However, relying solely on imaging studies to stage pancreatic cancer can be challenging. In order to assess the size of the malignancy and if it can be removed, a laparoscopy may occasionally be performed beforehand.

The surgeon makes a few tiny cuts in the abdomen (belly) to do this treatment, then inserts long, thin devices. One of these has a tiny video camera attached to the end so the surgeon can view inside the belly and examine the pancreatic and other organs. Tumor and other abnormal tissue samples can be used in biopsies to determine the extent of the cancer's dissemination.

Potentially curative surgery

Potentially curative surgery is only carried out if the surgeon believes that all of the cancer can be removed because studies have shown that removing only a portion of a pancreatic cancer does not help people live longer.It can be very challenging for patients to undergo such a complicated procedure. It may require weeks or months to fully recover from problems. Consider the potential advantages and hazards carefully if you're considering this kind of surgery.

Less than 1 in 5 pancreatic cancers seem to be restricted to the pancreas when they are first discovered. Even then, not every one of these malignancies ends up being truly resectable (capable of being entirely removed). Sometimes it is obvious once the surgery has begun that the cancer has spread too far to be totally removed. If this occurs, the procedure might be discontinued or the doctor might carry out a lesser procedure with the intention of symptom relief or symptom avoidance (see "Palliative surgery" below). This is because the intended surgery has a very low chance of curing the cancer and still has a high risk of having negative side effects. Additionally, it would extend the recuperation period, which might impede other treatments.

The only realistic chance to treat pancreatic cancer is through surgery, although this is not always the case. Even if all cancer that is visible is removed, it is common for some cancer cells to have already spread to other bodily regions. Over time, these cells might develop into fresh tumors that can be challenging to remove.