What is the Whipple Procedure?

The Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) is a major abdominal surgery that removes the head of the pancreas, the duodenum (first part of small intestine), gallbladder, lower bile duct, and sometimes part of the stomach. The remaining digestive organs are reconnected to allow normal digestion. It is the only curative surgical option for cancers of the head of the pancreas, ampulla of Vater, distal bile duct and duodenum.

When is Whipple Surgery Performed?

• Cancer of the head of the pancreas
• Ampullary carcinoma (cancer at the junction of bile duct and duodenum)
• Carcinoma of the distal common bile duct
• Duodenal cancer
• Chronic pancreatitis with head mass (Frey's/Beger procedure variants)
• Cystic tumours of the pancreatic head (IPMN, mucinous cystic neoplasm)

Surgery Details & Recovery

• Operation duration: 4–6 hours under general anaesthesia
• Hospital stay: 7–10 days
• Full recovery: 6–8 weeks
• Return to normal diet: 4–6 weeks
• 5-year survival for pancreatic cancer after Whipple: 20–25%
• 5-year survival for ampullary carcinoma after Whipple: 40–50%