Taming A Surgeon’s Worst Nightmare – A Case Series Emphasizing Early Detection of Complications Following Whipple’s Resection and Their Successful Management

Authors

  • Rahul Kushagra Division of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
  • Ashwin Krishnamoorthy Division of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3025-0993
  • Mohan Kumar R Division of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
  • Chandramohan K Division of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
  • Madhu Muralee Division of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0915-7368
  • Mira Wagh Division of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7375-459X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njmr.150220251086

Keywords:

Whipple’s resection, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, Postoperative pancreatic fistula, Pseudoaneurysm, Efferent Loop Syndrome

Abstract

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple’s resection) is by far one of the most complicated procedures in surgery with tedious dissection, multiple anastomoses and a stormy postoperative course. The post operative management of these cases may be extremely challenging due to the varied nature of complications involved. Here we present a case series of 5 patients with a varied spectrum of postoperative complications. 3 patients had vascular complications, 1 had pancreatic leak and 1 had efferent loop syndrome. The various methods used to deal with such complications are described.

References

Wente MN, Bassi C, Dervenis C, Fingerhut A, Gouma DJ, Izbicki JR, Neoptolemos JP, Padbury RT, Sarr MG, Traverso LW, Yeo CJ, Büchler MW. Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) after pancreatic surgery: a suggested definition by the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS). Surgery. 2007 Nov;142(5):761-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2007.05.005. PMID: 17981197. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2007.05.005

Jogerst KM, Chang YH, Etzioni DA, Mathur AK, Habermann EB, Wasif N. Identifying the Optimal case-volume threshold for pancreatectomy in contemporary practice. Am J Surg. 2022 Feb;223(2):318-324. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.03.030 PMid:33775411 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.03.030

Eillette G, Dominguez I, Ferrone C, Thayer SP, McGrath D, Warshaw AL, et al. Implications and management of pancreatic fistulas following pancreaticoduodenectomy: The Massachusetts General Hospital experience. Arch Surg. 2008;143:476-81. 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.143.5.476 PMid:18490557 PMCid:PMC3806102 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.143.5.476

Pulvirenti A, Ramera M, Bassi C. Modifications in the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) definition of postoperative pancreatic fistula. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Dec 12;2:107. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21037/tgh.2017.11.14 PMid:29354764 PMCid:PMC5763010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21037/tgh.2017.11.14

Feng J, Chen YL, Dong JH, Chen MY, Cai SW, Huang ZQ. Post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage: risk factors, managements and outcomes. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2014 Oct;13(5):513-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1499-3872(14)60276-9 PMid:25308362 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1499-3872(14)60276-9

Pedrazzoli S., Sperti C. Prevention of clinically-relevant post- operative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Ann. Surg. 2019;269:e7-e8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000002878 PMid:29923877 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000002878

Ahmad H, Saleem O, Raza MZ, Haider J, Alam SN. Efferent Loop Syndrome in a Post-pancreatoduodenectomy Patient Due to Exuberant Foreign Body Giant Cell Reaction Mimicking Cancer: A Case Report. Cureus. 2019 Jun 14;11(6):e4904. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.4904 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.4904

de Castro SM, Busch OR, Gouma DJ. Management of bleeding and leakage after pancreatic surgery. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2004 Oct;18(5):847-64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpg.2004.06.001 PMid:15494282 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpg.2004.06.001

Kwong WT, Fehmi SM, Lowy AM, Savides TJ. Enteral stenting for gastric outlet obstruction and afferent limb syndrome following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Ann Gastroenterol. 2014;27(4):413-417. PMID: 25332208; PMCID: PMC4188946.

Büchler MW, Wagner M, Schmied BM, Uhl W, Friess H, Z'graggen K. Changes in morbidity after pancreatic resection: Toward the end of completion pancreatectomy. Arch Surg. 2003;138:1310-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.138.12.1310 PMid:14662530 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.138.12.1310

Okuno A, Miyazaki M, Ito H, Ambiru S, Yoshidome H, Shimizu H, Nakagawa K, Shimizu Y, Nukui Y, Nakajima N. Nonsurgical management of ruptured pseudoaneurysm in patients with hepatobiliary pancreatic diseases. Am J Gastroenterol 2001; 96: 1067-1071. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03691.x PMid:11316148 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03691.x

Downloads

Published

2025-04-01

How to Cite

Kushagra , R., Krishnamoorthy, A., Kumar R, M., Chandramohan K, Muralee, M., & Wagh, M. (2025). Taming A Surgeon’s Worst Nightmare – A Case Series Emphasizing Early Detection of Complications Following Whipple’s Resection and Their Successful Management. National Journal of Medical Research, 15(02), 176–181. https://doi.org/10.55489/njmr.150220251086

Issue

Section

Case Series