Let's Whip something up

I vowed to myself that amidst my surgical posting i shall put up numerous educational posts. But alas, time has eluded me and so here i am, up and awake at 1 am supposed to be studying for the much-anticipated rounds tomorrow with a very fierce attending, Dr. R...Digestive Surgeon..and as i was reading, i thought; why not?

i'll teach you a thing or two about surgery :p
so here goes. Tonight we shall learn about the 'Whipple Procedure' which is what MY patient will be having tomorrow morning at 7 am sharp.

this diagram is of an abnormal pancreas. Where a tumor has develop BEFORE a whipple procedure is performed.

In the beginning of the procedure, the surgeon will decide whether the tumor can be removed. The pancreas is examined by an open incision or by laparoscopic instruments. If the cancer has not spread to surrounding tissues, your surgeon will continue to perform the Whipple procedure.

The overall goal of the Whipple procedure is to remove the head of the pancreas and the attached section of the small intestine.  First, the end of the stomach is divided off and detached. This part the stomach leads to the small intestine, where the pancreas and bile duct both attach. In the next step, the cancerous head of the pancreas is cut, leaving it attached to the small intestine. Farther down from the pancreas attachment site, the small intestine is divided to free the section of the intestine that is connected to the pancreatic head. The bile duct is the last connection to be cut. This leaves the gallbladder and common bile duct attached to the removed section.

The next steps reconnect the intestinal tract. The stomach is connected to the small intestine, and the bile duct and remaining portion of the pancreas are reattached.

              Several tubes may be implanted for postoperative care. To prevent tissue fluid from accumulating in the operated site, a temporary drain leading out of the body will be implanted. Also, a G-tube leading out of the stomach will be inserted to help prevent nausea and vomiting, and a J-tube inserted into the small intestine will serve as a channel for supplementary feeding.  - taken from www..debakeydepartmentofsurgery.org-

okay, sekian terima kasih :)