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New technologies are improving pancreatic cancer treatment, offering hope to patients facing one of the least survivable forms of cancer. The Whipple procedure, a complex surgery for localized pancreatic cancer, can now be done robotically.
Dr. Zhi Ven Fong, a Mayo Clinic surgical oncologist, says innovations in technology allow surgeons to do this highly complex operation in a minimally invasive way. Dr. Fong explains what happens during a total robotic Whipple procedure.
The Whipple procedure involves removing the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, gall bladder and bile duct. During surgery, Dr. Fong looks into a 3D camera while guiding the robot from a console.
"With the robotic approach, we believe that the incisions are smaller, the recoveries quicker and less pain," says Dr. Fong.
Candidate for robotic Whipple surgery
The best candidate for the surgery depends on the person and the cancer.
"Typically, patients have a lower BMI and the pancreatic cancers that don't involve the main visceral vessels that passes through the pancreas," says Dr. Fong.
Originally published in Mayo Clinic News Network
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