It’s only natural to want to find a capable surgeon who also has your best interest at heart. Pancreatic surgery can save your life if you have pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis — but it takes a devoted and experienced surgeon. Here is what you can expect when going into pancreatic surgery, as well as how to find the right surgeon.
What You Can Expect During a Pancreatic Procedure
Depending on your specific medical condition, you may need any one of these four surgical procedures. They include:
- Whipple procedure: This operation involves the removal of the head of the pancreas, the gallbladder, part of the duodenum, small intestine and stomach, to get rid of any cancerous tumors. This is a lengthy procedure that is only recommended for otherwise healthy patients.
- Open and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: This cancer removal procedure usually involves removing the tail of the pancreas rather than the head, as well as the spleen.
- Pancreatic debridement for necrotizing acute pancreatitis: Acute pancreatitis can be dangerous because it kills parts of the pancreas — this procedure relieves pain by removing dead tissue from the pancreas.
- Puestow and Frey’s procedures: The Puestow procedure involves filleting the pancreas and connecting it to the small intestine to allow it to drain, while the Frey’s procedure seeks the same result by removing affected areas and then attaching it to the small intestine.
Pancreatic Surgery Healing Process
After you’ve pulled through your procedure successfully, recovery can take about two months. You may stay in the hospital for as few as three or four days after the surgery or as long as a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, you’ll have to take it slow as you start to resume normal eating and other basic daily activities. In the months following your surgery, you can expect to return to the hospital for regular evaluations.
How to Choose the Right Pancreatic Surgeon
As you look for a pancreas surgeon near you, keep in mind these tips to determine if a surgeon is trustworthy:
- Ask about past surgeries: Don’t be afraid to ask your surgeon about similar surgeries they’ve performed. Your decision could depend on how successful they’ve been in the past.
- Find out what others say: Can you find other patients who had procedures done by your surgeon? Have their experiences been positive or negative?
- Ask about education and training: If you’re going to allow someone to conduct surgery on your pancreas, you probably want to know where they received their training. There’s nothing wrong with asking this upfront if you’re not sure.
Schedule a Consult With Dr. Fraiman
Because surgeries for pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis are such lengthy and in-depth procedures, it’s important that you find a competent and compassionate surgeon who will see to your needs. Dr. Mark Fraiman and his team of multidisciplinary surgeons have years of experience operating on patients like you and helping them reach a full recovery.
To learn more about how Dr. Fraiman may be able to help you or about procedures offered, such as liver resections, Whipple procedures, and pancreatic cancer surgery, call 410-427-2024 to schedule a consultation today.
