Pancreas Surgery

Statistics
The rate of new cases of pancreatic cancer was 13.2 per 100,000 men and women per year. The death rate was 11.1 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2014-2018 cases and 2015-2019 deaths.

Anatomy:

The pancreas is a 12-15-cm long J-shaped (like a hockey stick), soft, lobulated, retroperitoneal organ. It lies transversely, although a bit obliquely, on the posterior abdominal wall behind the stomach, across the lumbar spine.

Reasons why pancreas surgery may be needed:

Cancer

Pancreatic pseudocysts

Cysts

Necrosis

Symptoms Of Pancreatic Cancer
Most patients present with obstructive jaundice caused by compression of the bile duct in the head of the pancreas. Epigastric or back pain, vague abdominal symptoms, and weight loss are also characteristic of pancreatic cancer. More than one half of cases have distant metastasis at diagnosis.

Diagnosis
CT scan is the most useful diagnostic and staging tool. Ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may provide additional information.

Surgery for the Pancreas
Removal of tumors of the tail of the pancreas, debridement of necrotic pancreas and removal of pseudocysts are performed with minmally invasive techniques by Dr. Paracha.