The Post-Operative Care of a Patient with Whipple’s Operation

Abstract

This article describes the most important part, the post-operative care of a patient having Whipple’s operation. Whipple’s operation consists of resection of the pancreatic head, duodenum and followed by

pancreaticojejunostomy, choledochojejunestomy, and gastrojejunestomy, & duodenojejunostomy. This complex surgical procedure causes alterations of the normal anatomy which may lead the post operative changes and common complications. The most serious complications immediately after surgery are pancreatic fistula and gastroparesis. Likewise, there are other immediate complications such as bleeding, infection, pneumonia, stomach ulcer, urinary catheter complication, weight loss, pain, and prolonged numbness under the wound. Besides these complications, long-term complications such as malabsorption, alteration in diet, loss of weight and diabetes may occur. Hospital stay varies from 12 to 23 days, depending on the seriousness and intervention. Furthermore, the complication rate can be low, that depends upon the hands of the surgeon as well as the nurse who is experienced. The combination of Whipple’s procedure and postoperative care, the outcome in terms of prolonging life, and quality of life for patient having cancer of the pancreas’s head.