pancreatic leak

so my mom who had the whipple 4 weeks ago. she  had to go in last week for a drain to be put in cuz there was a leakage which was collecting fluid and created a pool.  She has now had it in for about a week .

I'm just wanting some more info. on this.  Has anyone had a leak after a whipple and come through it?  I know she's feeling better but sometimes it makes her nervous and myself when you read all the problems with a leak on the internet.

Any info will help!! Thanks.

Mollie

I had a chyle leak (not uncommon I don't think) not a pancreatic leak which required a jackson-pratt (JP) drain, sqeeze bulb drain, I left hospital post pylorus preserving whipple with it and over a few weeks problem cleared up on its own with a low fat diet, but not sure it is the same type of leak.   I am wondering if it was 2-4 weeks +/- and he took it out while I was still draining some; but I left with it so if I never had it initially it may have been needed longer.  I never had a problem after that and am fine nearing 16 mos. post whipple.  good luck.  If your mom's were a chyle leak mine was from an extensive lymphatic resection (not a bad thing).  They tested the fluid in the drain when I was inpatient.  Ask what type of leak.... the drain probably prevented fluid buildup in my abdomen.  I left hospital with jtube on lower left and JP on lower right, I used to laughingly think I looked like a scifi character.   Ask if they have reason to be concerned or not, I am sure many causes.  J

Also, is she in top hands at a top center or not?  If not and if not satisfied with answer, I would get another opinion.  I felt very confident my doc had done over a hundred whipples and was trained at one of the best.  Sometimes post whipple complications no big deal, not always, so again ask....

Oh she's at a great hospital and a great thorough dr who is from the mayo clinic.

Yes it is a pancreatic leak and she does have the  jackson pratt draining tube.

any different info on that? 

hi

my sister came home with a drain tube after her whipple for a leak, she had it in for about 5 weeks and it was still filling up for roughly 3-4 weeks, she started getting a pain from it and had to go back into hospital and get it removed, we were told it was because her body was healing and pushing the drain out? i am not sure of the name of the drain she had sorry but it came from the pancreas in a thick tube and attatched to a bag on her side, a nurse came out every other day to change the bag for her

GB Clare

I got the impression the JP drain was commonly used and needed.  I liked having to drain it so it wasn't such a huge thing.  I would temporarily disconnect my feeding tube and cover up and then go to the food store---didn't have the courage in a small town to look obvious, I was relatively young for all this and couldn't stand looks of pity/fear then.