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The pancreas is a 15 cm long gland located in the abdomen behind the stomach and in front of the spine.

The pancreas plays an important role in the functioning of the body, as it produces digestive enzymes that help break down food & hormones that allow the body to use and store the energy produced by the digestion of these foods.

These hormones include insulin and glucagon, which are essential for controlling blood sugar levels.

The pancreas is pear-shaped with a wider part (the head), an intermediate part (the body), and a narrow part (the tail) and contains two types of cells:

• exocrine cells that produce digestive enzymes and
• endocrine cells, which secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Although malignant tumors (cancers) can arise from both groups of cells, about 95% of pancreatic cancers arise from the exocrine part.

What are the causes of its occurrence?

There are many factors that may contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer, including a history of chronic pancreatitis, smoking, long-term diabetes mellitus. Some rare hereditary diseases may also be associated with pancreatic cancer.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), pain in the upper and middle abdomen and back, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite for food, constant fatigue, etc.. If any of the above symptoms appear, it is recommended to immediately visit a specialist.

How is Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed?

The earlier pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chances of successful treatment and the longer the patient’s life expectancy. However, diagnosing pancreatic cancer, especially in the early stages, is not an easy task, as the disease is characterized by mild and common symptoms. This is why clinical examination is not particularly helpful.

The most common tests for diagnosing pancreatic cancer are Transabdominal ultrasound, Abdominal CT scan, Magnetic cholangiography (MRCP), Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), through the stomach, with which a biopsy can be taken from the tumor, and Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). At this point, it is worth noting that EUS and ERCP diagnostic tests are usually applied to document the findings of imaging tests, while at the same time they contribute significantly to the detection of early cancers, mainly in the head of the pancreas, which is the area of ​​most frequent occurrence of malignancies.

What surgeries are performed for Pancreatic Cancer?

Treatment of pancreatic cancer is a major challenge because the diagnosis is usually not made in a timely manner, most patients do not have a detectable tumor, and pancreatic surgeries are highly difficult.

Therefore, decisions regarding the surgical treatment of each patient must be made by surgeons who specialize in these surgeries, have extensive experience, and have high rates of successful tumor resection, even in patients who have been classified as inoperable.

The main procedures for treating pancreatic cancer are Peripheral pancreatectomy, for tumors in the body and tail of the organ, and Whipple’s Procedure (pancreatoduodenectomy), for the removal of tumors in the head of the pancreas.

Depending on the case, the removal of tumors in the pancreas can be done with open surgery, laparoscopically, or with the assistance of a robotic system, which is the most modern approach.

Robotic Whipple’s procedure: The evolution of robotic technology at the service of the patient

The robotic Whipple’s procedure is an evolution of the simple laparoscopic Whipple’s procedure with the assistance of a robotic system.

It is a difficult and demanding procedure that carries serious risks of complications.However, it is a surgical procedure that often proves life-saving for cancer patients. Therefore, where surgically feasible, the best option is to perform the Whipple robotically.

In the robotic Whipple procedure, the surgeon sits at a console, having the ability to see the surgical field in magnification and in 3D, as well as to direct the robotic arms with special controls.

The surgical robot controlled by the surgeon has in turn very significant advantages. Its flexible arms allow surgical maneuvers that are impossible for the human hand to be performed, with proverbial precision and stability.

In addition, thanks to the surgeon’s ability to see the surgical field in great detail and magnification, the robotic arms can insert the system’s special, very small surgical tools into particularly narrow spaces and around corners, which is impossible in an open or even simple laparoscopic operation.

The above advantages constitute the greatest guarantee for minimizing the risk of serious complications from such a major surgery, such as splenic rupture, pancreatic leakage and pancreatitis.

Especially in the critical phase of the anastomosis of the gastrointestinal system attempted by the surgeon after the removal of the tumor during the Whipple procedure, the use of the robot proves to be life-saving.

Indicatively, in major centers abroad, the rate of the most common complication after Whipple’s surgery, which is pancreatic leakage, is 15% – 20%, while the corresponding rate of Dr. Konstantinidis’ Surgical Team for this complication is only 5%!