Whipple procedure
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weston Super Mare/UAE
Age: 60
Posts: 406
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whipple procedure
Chaps, am in need of the above, apparently, having just been diagnosed with a -fortunately - benign tumour in the Ampulla. Has anybody had any experience of this and can tell me what I will undergo?
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Capt
This is a very major abdominal operation, as you probably know. It is an uncommon operation for most surgeons to do during their career, unless they are in a specialised unit where these patients are sent. These units are thus doing these operations on a regular basis and maintain a level of expertise, and have good backup.
It is essential to ensure the surgeon performing the operation is experienced in doing it, and with good results. Need to ask how many of these operations the surgeon has personally done, and results.
Some surgeons, especially young surgeons, want to get one of these under their belt as a sort of right of passage. Best to avoid these surgeons.
A second opinion would be in order.
This is a very major abdominal operation, as you probably know. It is an uncommon operation for most surgeons to do during their career, unless they are in a specialised unit where these patients are sent. These units are thus doing these operations on a regular basis and maintain a level of expertise, and have good backup.
It is essential to ensure the surgeon performing the operation is experienced in doing it, and with good results. Need to ask how many of these operations the surgeon has personally done, and results.
Some surgeons, especially young surgeons, want to get one of these under their belt as a sort of right of passage. Best to avoid these surgeons.
A second opinion would be in order.
Last edited by rjtjrt; 12th Jul 2014 at 00:28.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Capt, I had the procedure 18 months ago, they say a 6-10 hour procedure, in my case 8. One reason they do the whipple is they just do not know if it is benign or otherwise until the tests are done on the tissue removed during the operation. Prior to the procedure they said 50/50 benign or cancerous. Ten days after the operation I was given the news 'the operation was necessary' meaning it was not benign.
That was followed by chemotherapy, 6 months after the end of the chemo, they found spread, unfortunately, I am now classed as palliative not curative.
My procedure was carried out at Addenbrookes in Cambridge one of the foremost hospitals for this procedure.
The surgeon said it would be a 'life changing' procedure.
I truly wish you all the very very best for the future.
That was followed by chemotherapy, 6 months after the end of the chemo, they found spread, unfortunately, I am now classed as palliative not curative.
My procedure was carried out at Addenbrookes in Cambridge one of the foremost hospitals for this procedure.
The surgeon said it would be a 'life changing' procedure.
I truly wish you all the very very best for the future.
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: New Zealand
Age: 67
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weston Super Mare/UAE
Age: 60
Posts: 406
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the info chaps and very sorry to hear of your predicament, ihatesnakes.
Am in the fortunate position that my tumour is benign (biopsied a couple of days back) but it will have to come out so as to prevent a malignancy in the future. The surgeon that I am currently under has done lots of these procedures but is out of current practice and is also firmly of the opinion that Dubai is NOT the place to get this done. He also recommended that I use a surgeon in current practice, as you guys have also said. Have found a surgeon in the states, his brother in fact (a large family of surgeons!) who is very current and, indeed is doing 3 of these in august. My surgeon will assist his brother in the op and this has the advantage of not needing to duplicate tests etc as the work up is all but done and then he can take care of the post operative work back in Dubai, thus ensuring continuity of care. It seems a good option to me.
Was wondering about how long the recuperation is and how much time to get back into the cockpit? What is life like immediate post op?
Am in the fortunate position that my tumour is benign (biopsied a couple of days back) but it will have to come out so as to prevent a malignancy in the future. The surgeon that I am currently under has done lots of these procedures but is out of current practice and is also firmly of the opinion that Dubai is NOT the place to get this done. He also recommended that I use a surgeon in current practice, as you guys have also said. Have found a surgeon in the states, his brother in fact (a large family of surgeons!) who is very current and, indeed is doing 3 of these in august. My surgeon will assist his brother in the op and this has the advantage of not needing to duplicate tests etc as the work up is all but done and then he can take care of the post operative work back in Dubai, thus ensuring continuity of care. It seems a good option to me.
Was wondering about how long the recuperation is and how much time to get back into the cockpit? What is life like immediate post op?
Most Whipples are undertaken for malignancy so you may be a little faster but it will be months. I would recommend you consider resistance exercises beforehand and a high protein diet to build .up muscle mass.
There are obviously a lot of possibilities and I would not wish to speculate to time to flying
I would confirm you should not have this done in Dubai. The surgeon is only one part of a team and I would advise a proper hepatobiliary unit. The surgeon should not be undertaking any surgery except pancreas, liver and bile duct - if he does other things he is not specialised
Also ensure the funding is in place in the US not only for the operation but also for any complications or prolonged stays in ITU. This would not be a problem in the UK where there are a dozen or more world leading centres
There are obviously a lot of possibilities and I would not wish to speculate to time to flying
I would confirm you should not have this done in Dubai. The surgeon is only one part of a team and I would advise a proper hepatobiliary unit. The surgeon should not be undertaking any surgery except pancreas, liver and bile duct - if he does other things he is not specialised
Also ensure the funding is in place in the US not only for the operation but also for any complications or prolonged stays in ITU. This would not be a problem in the UK where there are a dozen or more world leading centres
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weston Super Mare/UAE
Age: 60
Posts: 406
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Emirates are holding the purse strings via their insurance but they did confirm that anything as a result of operative complications, wherever I may be, will be covered....that said, they dont sound too hopeful about the American option and have also asked me to look at the UK. Has anybody any experience of the Royal Marsden dor this sort of surgery?
Picking a surgeon is a little like shooting in the dark and I really need an informed opinion on something as big as this.
Picking a surgeon is a little like shooting in the dark and I really need an informed opinion on something as big as this.
Have sent you a PM so hopefully can help you with your questions. Although a big operation it is routine for a hepatobiliary unit and on a fit pilot with a benign lesion I really wouldn't be too doom and gloom
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weston Super Mare/UAE
Age: 60
Posts: 406
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heathrow director, am afraid that its either the chainsaws OR the unicycle! Ne'er the two shall meet...! but thanks a lot for your wishes. Radgirl, a thank you to you, too, though it has not arrived yet......
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In my day, now some years ago, Imperial College Hospital Hammersmith, or Kings College Hospital in Denmark Hill South London were world class centres for hepatobiliary surgery.
Good luck, but you will be ok with skilled help.
Good luck, but you will be ok with skilled help.
Before surgery, try to eat lots of carbs and protein, start multi-vitamins and trace elements including magnesium. Treat this as a marathon not a sprint and if you have the chance train accordingly, build yourself up using protein shakes etc. The fitter and well fed you are before surgery, hopefully the better you will tolerate the recovery phase.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weston Super Mare/UAE
Age: 60
Posts: 406
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks,Bob the Doc. Am currently in the Marsden right now and the op went well, although I developed biliary periotonitis a week later.....meant a 12 day stay ITU.
Apologies that one of the correspondents sent a pm to me, which came up as an email alert with a link but am quite unable to see the pm.
The op really was a gruelling affair but at least I am now able to totter around. Am truly horrified at how weak I have become in these last 2 weeks but am regaining strength, albeit slowly, every day. Each day the pros outweigh the cons.
My surgeon did tell me that, far from being benign, there was a 2 in 3 chance of it being malignant but these results will takena while. All is not neccessarily ship-shape anddandy yet, but I remain optimistic......
Apologies that one of the correspondents sent a pm to me, which came up as an email alert with a link but am quite unable to see the pm.
The op really was a gruelling affair but at least I am now able to totter around. Am truly horrified at how weak I have become in these last 2 weeks but am regaining strength, albeit slowly, every day. Each day the pros outweigh the cons.
My surgeon did tell me that, far from being benign, there was a 2 in 3 chance of it being malignant but these results will takena while. All is not neccessarily ship-shape anddandy yet, but I remain optimistic......
I am sure I speak for others in saying get well soon
Don't worry about the missed PM as you made entirely the correct decision in going to the Marsden and so got there without help!!!! The benign histology sounded iffy to me so your surgeons comments are fully expected but you are in good hands and should be optimistic.
Don't worry about the missed PM as you made entirely the correct decision in going to the Marsden and so got there without help!!!! The benign histology sounded iffy to me so your surgeons comments are fully expected but you are in good hands and should be optimistic.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weston Super Mare/UAE
Age: 60
Posts: 406
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, Radgirl, your thoughts are appreciated. Am happy to have gone to the Marsden and, every day, some strength is returning....wow, what an ordeal though!
Will be another week before the results will be out and then we shall see which way it is that we need to turn. Pretty optimistic though.....
Will be another week before the results will be out and then we shall see which way it is that we need to turn. Pretty optimistic though.....
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: E.Wash State
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Likewise, Smiffy, best wishes for continued recovery. This a tough bit of slicing, and it sounds like you are coming along well. Fortunately you got into a world class center, and can expect the best care available. More chicken soup is now called for! Hopefully good reports on the way, too.
