Whipple Procedure

Whipple surgery, or pancreaticoduodenectomy, is the most common pancreatic cancer operation. For patients with cancer in the head of the pancreas (the part that is next to the small intestine), the Whipple procedure is most likely to provide long-term management of pancreatic cancer.

Because it is hidden behind the stomach, pancreatic cancer is difficult to see or feel during routine tests and exams. Also, it usually has no symptoms until it has advanced or spread to other organs. As a result, pancreatic cancer is not often diagnosed early.

Whipple surgery is complex and high-risk, with the potential for life-threatening complications. At University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center (UMGCCC), you’ll receive care from our gastrointestinal cancer specialists who have extensive experience in complex cancer surgeries.

Whipple Surgery: What to Expect

Whipple surgery is usually an open operation that takes 5-6 hours. In some cases, our surgeons can perform the procedure with minimally invasive surgery.

To remove the pancreas and as much of the cancer as possible, the surgeon needs to remove parts of other organs or structures. These include the bile duct, gallbladder, duodenum, pancreas, lymph nodes and possibly part of the stomach.

The surgeon then removes the cancerous head and sometimes other tissues of the pancreas and reconnects the digestive tract.

Make an Appointment

Learn more about pancreatic cancer or schedule an appointment with one of our cancer specialists. We make every effort to schedule new patient consultations within 24 to 48 hours.

To schedule a consultation or refer a patient, call us at 410-328-7904 or at 1-800-888-8823 if outside the Baltimore Metro area.