Guide To Understanding Pancreas Removal Surgery

When Removal Is Recommended

Pancreatic removal surgery, which is often called a pancreatectomy, is a surgical procedure where the patient's entire pancreas or part of it is removed. There are several different reasons why an individual may need their pancreas removed. A pancreatic cancer patient, for instance, may need to have curative surgery or palliative surgery to remove their pancreas. A pancreatectomy is often the best chance a patient has at curing this deadly type of cancer. An individual affected by chronic pancreatitis, which is characterized by recurrent inflammation or infection of the gland that can be very painful and fatal, may need to have their pancreas removed. A pancreas removal is only recommended in cases of chronic pancreatitis where the pancreas is damaged severely, or other treatments are not successful. A patient affected by intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms may require the partial or full removal of the pancreas. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms are precancerous tumors that develop in the pancreatic ducts. When these tumors are left unaddressed, they always produce malignancy.

Read about how the surgery works next.