Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

The latest pancreatic cancer surgery techniques performed by one of the most experienced teams in the region

If you've been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it's important to know all of your options, including some that may be hard to find at other cancer centers. At MedStar Health, your cancer team includes surgeons who have extensive training and over 50 years of combined experience in every type of surgery to remove pancreatic tumors. From complex open surgery to minimally invasive techniques that use small incisions and laparoscopic or robotic approaches to operate with exceptional precision, we perform more surgeries on the pancreas than anyone else in the region. Our surgeons also specialize in Whipple procedures with venous and arterial reconstructions and left pancreatectomies with celiac axis resections.

Many patients come to our Center for Liver and Pancreas Surgery for a second opinion to ask about pancreatic tumors that other pancreatic cancer specialists have deemed inoperable. We are pioneers in some of the latest techniques and may offer innovative treatments unavailable elsewhere.

• We’re part of the MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute and many of the sophisticated procedures we perform are based on methods used in organ transplants.

• We regularly participate in clinical trials that offer promising options for pancreatic cancer patients before they're widely adopted at other health systems.

• We're finding better and safer treatments for pancreatic cancer through our research engine, the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In addition, we work with a multidisciplinary team of doctors, including radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, hepatologists, interventional radiologists, and others to design a treatment plan personalized to you. This individualized plan will also involve the guidance and support of other specialists, including nutritionists, social workers, and rehabilitation therapists who will help you achieve your highest level of health during and after treatment. Sometimes surgery can cure pancreatic cancer, while other times the goal of surgery is to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Our approach

We're pioneers in minimally invasive surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Whenever possible, we take a minimally invasive approach with our surgeries, making a smaller incision(s) and using advanced techniques to optimize our patients' recovery. These may include:

• Laparoscopic surgery: A laparoscope is a thin tube with a tiny video camera that allows our surgeons to view the targeted area in real time.

• Robotic surgery: Using a sophisticated robotic platform, we control robotic arms, surgical instruments, and a high-definition camera to operate with the highest level of precision.

While conventional, open surgery is still recommended for some patients, a minimally invasive procedure means:

• Less postoperative pain
• Shorter hospitalization
• Faster recovery (typically two to three weeks versus six weeks)
• Much smaller scar

Minimally invasive pancreatic procedures are demanding, requiring surgeons who already have expertise with conventional approaches. Our experienced team is finding success with these newer techniques, and we’re among the few places in the country to offer them. We’ve also performed more of them than other centers in the Washington, D.C., area.

Other considerations

Biliary obstructions

Sometimes, a pancreatic tumor blocks the tubes that transport bile. That causes a biliary obstruction, which requires treatment. Your doctor may recommend one of two approaches:

• Surgery

• Placement of a biliary stent (tiny metal tube) during an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Follow-up care

Patients who have their spleen or pancreas removed (or who otherwise lose pancreatic function) receive additional follow-up care:

• Insulin: You will need to follow a diabetic diet and take insulin if your pancreas is removed.
• Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement: We treat pancreatic enzyme insufficiency to help aid digestion.
• Vaccines: Certain vaccines are recommended for patients whose spleen is removed since the organ plays an important role in the immune system and your risk of infection rises without it.