Go for Whipple procedure in India for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Whipple procedure in India is done at the best cancer hospitals under expert surgeons. Indian oncologists have wide experience in cancer treatment with positive results as they are qualified from countries like US, UK and Japan. Hospitals in India are equipped with state of the art technology coupled with all the modern amenities. Most of the abroad patients prefer Whipple procedure in India as they get the best results.
Why Whipple Procedure is Performed?
The Whipple procedure (pancreatoduodenectomy) is the most common operation performed for pancreatic cancer and may be used to treat other cancers such as small bowel cancer. Surgeons remove the head of the pancreas, most of the duodenum (a part of the small intestine), a portion of the bile duct and sometimes a portion of the stomach. After the pancreatoduodenectomy, the surgeon reconstructs the digestive tract. At Mayo Clinic, surgeons perform more than 100 Whipple procedures annually. Patients leave the hospital in an average of 14 days.
What is a Whipple operation?
Whipple procedure, Also known as pancreatoduodenectomy, the Whipple procedure is the most common surgery for pancreatic cancer. To ensure the best outcome, the American Cancer Society recommends that you undergo this surgery in a center that treats a large number of pancreatic cancer patients. Mayo Clinic physicians have extensive experience with the Whipple procedure, performing more than 100 of these complex operations every year. In the Whipple operation the head of the pancreas, a portion of the bile duct, the gallbladder and the duodenum is removed. Occasionally a portion of the stomach may also be removed. After removal of these structures the remaining pancreas, bile duct and the intestine is sutured back into the intestine to direct the gastrointestinal secretions back into the gut.
Laparoscopic Whipple operation
At USC, Dr Parekh is developing techniques for a laparoscopic Whipple operation. At present this procedure may be offered at USC to selected patients with chronic pancreatitis, cystic tumors and islet cell tumors of the pancreas and patients who have ampullary cancer. We do not offer the laparoscopic Whipple operation for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The Whipple operation is performed laparoscopically utilizing a laparoscopic hand-access device.
What are the results of the Whipple surgery?
Over the last 15 years major pancreatic centers in the United States have developed excellent results for the Whipple surgery. In almost all the major centers the death rate from this surgery is now less than 5%.
Recent studies from Johns Hopkins and Memorial Sloan Kettering have shown that outcome from surgery for a Whipple operation is dependent on the experience of the hospital and the surgeon performing the surgical operation. In those that hospitals that perform high volume of these procedures the death rate from the Whipple operation is now less than 5%. In hospitals that infrequently perform the Whipple operation a much higher complication rate and the death rate from the surgery often greater than 15 to 20% has been reported in surgical literature.
The American Cancer Society recommends that the Whipple operation should be performed in a center that is experienced and does high volume of these complex surgical procedures to ensure the best outcome.
Will the Whipple operation improve my survival?
The overall survival after the Whipple operation for pancreatic adenocarcinoma is about 20% at five years after surgery. Patients without spread of cancer into their lymph nodes may have up to a 40% survival. The actuarial survival is less than 5% at five years for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who are treated with chemotherapy alone.
The operation is usually curative in patients with benign or low grade cancers of the pancreas.
Will I require any further treatment for my cancer after the Whipple operation?
We recommend that all patients with pancreatic cancer should have chemotherapy and radiation therapy after the operation. Recent studies from Johns Hopkins University have shown that the survival rate can be increased by as much as 10% by adding chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the surgery for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
We do not recommend any further treatment for patients who have benign tumors of the pancreas and in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.
Why India?
As Indian corporate hospitals are on par with the best hospitals in Thailand, Singapore, etc and the country is becoming a preferred medical destination for Whipple procedure. In addition to the increasingly top class medical care, a big draw for foreign patients is also the very minimal or hardly any waitlist as is common in European or American hospitals. Known for its hospitality for tourists, the county has opened doors to welcome with the same hospitality. Many doctors are trained abroad and hospitals attracting international patients are on a par with those in the west with all staff being proficient in English. The Indian health and medical industry is large and boasts some well developed infrastructure, particularly in big cities such as Chennai, which support the wealthy classes. For more details on Whipple procedure in India, visit us at www.forerunnershealthcare.com or mail your queries at enquiry@forerunnershealthcare.com or call us at: +91-9371136499, +91- 9860755000 (International) / + 1-415-599-2537 (USA) / +44-20-8133-2571 (UK)