Whipple Procedure, average length (range)

My husband of 42 years had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a couple of weeks ago.  Right now he is feeling okay, and is continuing on with his normal routine and is very upbeat.  He is still undergoing more test to find out the extent of his cancer and is scheduled for a Whipple procedure on August 15th.  His surgeon has informed us that the procedure will take 10-16 hours.  Is this an accurate estimate?  His surgeon is experienced in doing the procedure but I also have heard that some expert in this procedure can do it in 2 hours?  Is anyone out there actually have this procedure done is less than 10 hours? 

Finding this site is a blessing to me, I am mostly on my own trying to find information about pancreatic cancer and I am running low on fuel, physically and emotionally, and reading all your messages have given me hope and the strength to fight this disease with him.  God bless you all and thank you.

Susan

 

 

Sorry to hear of your husbands prognosis.  As you can see, this site has much valuable info.   My mom had the whipple in April 06, and I think it took about 8hours, if I remember correctly.   She also had a very, very experienced sugeon, very reputable med center.  They told it could be anywhere from 8-12 I think.  Every case is different.  I wish you all the luck, this is a difficult time.  Please just put your questions out there on this msg board, it is so helpful.  Good luck to both of you.

Hi Susan,

Very sorry to have to 'meet' you here, but maybe I have some info you might find helpful.

First know that PC is treacherous and you must be the advocate for your husband; lots of doctors don't know much about PC.  If you aren't at a center that is known to specialize in PC with surgeons who do lots of Whipples, you're already in trouble.  If the surgeon finishes in 2 hours, he wasn't able to complete the whipple for some reason and it was aborted; the Whipple cannot be completed in that short a period of time.  There is just too much plumbing inside that has be rerouted and the surgeon is sending lots of bits and pieces for immediate biopsy and all that takes a lot of time.  My husband had a Whipple 12/06 and was in surgery about 9 1/2 hrs.  

I suggest you go to the Johns Hopkins web site where you will find lots of info about PC and a great support board with extremely knowledge people.  That board is much better than this one, not to put this one down, it's just a fact.  Someone on that board can answer practically any question you might have.

Finding out all you can about PC is extremely important and right now, after being there for your husband, is Job 1.  Knowledge might not make you free in this situation, bit it will certainly give you a leg up on this scary situation.

Stay strong; I will keep you and your husband in my prayers.  Let us know how things go.

Joan in Chicago 

 

On 7/28/2007 Joan l wrote:

Hi Susan,

Very sorry to have to 'meet' you here, but maybe I have some info you might find helpful.

First know that PC is treacherous and you must be the advocate for your husband; lots of doctors don't know much about PC.  If you aren't at a center that is known to specialize in PC with surgeons who do lots of Whipples, you're already in trouble.  If the surgeon finishes in 2 hours, he wasn't able to complete the whipple for some reason and it was aborted; the Whipple cannot be completed in that short a period of time.  There is just too much plumbing inside that has be rerouted and the surgeon is sending lots of bits and pieces for immediate biopsy and all that takes a lot of time.  My husband had a Whipple 12/06 and was in surgery about 9 1/2 hrs.  

I suggest you go to the Johns Hopkins web site where you will find lots of info about PC and a great support board with extremely knowledge people.  That board is much better than this one, not to put this one down, it's just a fact.  Someone on that board can answer practically any question you might have.

Finding out all you can about PC is extremely important and right now, after being there for your husband, is Job 1.  Knowledge might not make you free in this situation, bit it will certainly give you a leg up on this scary situation.

Stay strong; I will keep you and your husband in my prayers.  Let us know how things go.

Joan in Chicago 

Hi, Joan,

Thank you for the information and for your encouraging words and prayers.  Sometimes it is so difficult to maintain a brave front under the circumstances but I have to be brave for David.  I did go to the John Hopkins website and posted my questions and hopefully someone out there can give me the info I needed. 

I hope and pray for your husband's continued recovery and take care.

 

Susan

 

On 7/28/2007 SusanT wrote:

My husband of 42 years had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a couple of weeks ago.  Right now he is feeling okay, and is continuing on with his normal routine and is very upbeat.  He is still undergoing more test to find out the extent of his cancer and is scheduled for a Whipple procedure on August 15th.  His surgeon has informed us that the procedure will take 10-16 hours.  Is this an accurate estimate?  His surgeon is experienced in doing the procedure but I also have heard that some expert in this procedure can do it in 2 hours?  Is anyone out there actually have this procedure done is less than 10 hours? 

Finding this site is a blessing to me, I am mostly on my own trying to find information about pancreatic cancer and I am running low on fuel, physically and emotionally, and reading all your messages have given me hope and the strength to fight this disease with him.  God bless you all and thank you.

Susan

 

 

My July, 2005 Whipple procedure took about 9 hours. Time varies based on a patient's situation and what your surgeon finds during the procedure.

That he qualifies for the Whipple puts him in a special category - those who have had their cancer detected at a relatively early stage. Early is best and hopefully there will be no unexpected findings. Keep positive thoughts, and clear margins. He has a great chance for a cure. I just past my second year and am enjoying not having to think about it on a daily basis.

Bob

Thank you, for the encouraging words, Bob.  We are getting ready for his pre-op appointment and writing all the questions.  We are enjoying our life one day at a time right now, we know after the surgery we will have a different "normal life", but right now we busy getting all the information we get our hands on, will deal with things as they come and hope for the best. 

Susan

Hi, first, I wish you all the best and hope everything goes well.  I cannot imagine a whipple being done in 2 hrs.  I am the old man of the boards and had my whipple done in 1990 in NY.  My surgery was 14 hrs, so I don't know about 2 hrs.  I know that techniques have been refined since then but..............?????  I pray your husband has a positive, strong attitude as I believe that it is what is needed.  I am happy to talk with him if he wants to.  Feel free to send me a message.  This is a very dificult disease but he can get through it, I did!

Larry

 

In reviewing the letters again, It is very important and positive to see that he is is a candidate for the surgery.  It says a lot!  Thank God.  Larry

 

On 8/3/2007 Nysurvivor wrote:

In reviewing the letters again, It is very important and positive to see that he is is a candidate for the surgery.  It says a lot!  Thank God.  Larry

I agree with Larry that the fact he can have a Whipple is a great sign. I had my whipple in April 2004 and then 6 months of 5FU just as "insurance, there was no spread to any lymph node"  My surgery at Vanderbilt took about 9 hours, according to family. I am told I was "out of it", probably the morphine the first two days, taled on imaginary cell phones and sent messages on the morphine button that I thought was my blackberry,,:-). Just laugh and go with it. Get him home, get him back to whatever he can eat. My wife had to give me enzyme shots for almost 3 weeks until the remainder of my pancreas kicked back in and she was awesome. YOU are the best fighter he has. I read all the odds but everyone is different. Just don't quit. Let all of know, you are in our prayers.

 

 

On 7/28/2007 SusanT wrote:

My husband of 42 years had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a couple of weeks ago.  Right now he is feeling okay, and is continuing on with his normal routine and is very upbeat.  He is still undergoing more test to find out the extent of his cancer and is scheduled for a Whipple procedure on August 15th.  His surgeon has informed us that the procedure will take 10-16 hours.  Is this an accurate estimate?  His surgeon is experienced in doing the procedure but I also have heard that some expert in this procedure can do it in 2 hours?  Is anyone out there actually have this procedure done is less than 10 hours? 

Finding this site is a blessing to me, I am mostly on my own trying to find information about pancreatic cancer and I am running low on fuel, physically and emotionally, and reading all your messages have given me hope and the strength to fight this disease with him.  God bless you all and thank you.

Susan