Guide To Understanding Pancreas Removal Surgery

Risks Of The Procedure

Every surgical procedure carries its own set of risks for the patient undergoing it. The mortality rate for a pancreatectomy is between five and ten percent and is reliant upon the experience of the surgeon and the extent of the procedure. A pancreatectomy has a higher rate of complications than most surgical procedures at around forty percent. The most prevalent complication that occurs with a pancreas removal surgery is postoperative bleeding, which may necessitate a return to surgery to identify the source of the bleeding and stop it. Another complication seen with a pancreatectomy is referred to as delayed gastric emptying, where liquids and food leave their stomach too slowly. To prevent or manage this problem effectively, surgeons can insert a feeding tube to help the patient through recovery. Another common complication seen in a pancreatectomy is a pancreatic anastomotic leak where the connection that attaches the organs back together leaks its contents. This complication can be prevented by testing the connection during the procedure. Other risks include the development of postoperative infection and an adverse reaction to general anesthesia.

Discover the details surrounding the recovery process next.