Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths. In 2015, the American Cancer Society estimates 49,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States. For those patients who are candidates for surgical resection, the Whipple procedure is potentially life-saving. Pancreatic cancer and its associated treatments are traditonally very debilitating for the patient. Now, with the combination of Dr. Ayyar’s advanced laproscopic skills and the da Vinci robot by Intuitive Surgical, we are able to recapture the quality of life for these patients.
The fully robotic Whipple surgery requires a highly technical skill set that only the most advanced surgeons can carry out with success. The robotic approach enhances the operation with its three-dimensional portrayal of the abdominal cavity and surgical field, assisting the surgeon in making precise dissections and reconstructions. Since the operation employs minimally invasive techniques, patients have less pain, minimal blood loss, and without large scars. The robotic Whipple also allows patients who have cancer to start chemotherapy and radiation therapy sooner, which is vital in the potential cure of this disease.
Benefits of the Robotic Whipple vs. the traditional Open Whipple procedure
• Reduced post-operative pain
• Less blood loss
• Faster return to eating
• Less scarring
• Shorter hospital stay
• Shortened recovery time allowing patients to begin chemotherapy and radiation sooner |