Complications & risks of a Whipple procedure
» Short-term complications & risks
Complications and risks of the procedure |
What can I expect? |
|---|---|
| Bleeding |
You may bleed during or after the Whipple procedure. You may need a blood transfusion. In rare cases you may need another operation to stop the bleeding. While you are in the hospital the health care team will watch you for signs and symptoms of bleeding. |
| Infection of incision (cut) |
You may get an infection in the surgical cut (surgical site infection). Your health care team will watch your incision (cut) while you are in the hospital. When you go home, check your incision (cut) for redness, swelling, or discharge. |
| Infection of lungs |
Some people get an infection in their lungs. This can happen after surgery. Deep breathing and coughing can help to stop this from happening. |
| Infection of bladder |
Some people get a urine infection in the bladder (urinary tract infection). This can happen after surgery. The catheter will be removed as early as possible after surgery to help stop you from getting a urinary tract infection. |
| Anastomosis leak (a leak where the surgeon makes the new connections) |
The anastomosis (where your surgeon made the new connections) may not heal well and begin to leak. This means that digestive fluids can leak into your abdomen. Your surgeon may leave a drain in your abdomen or you may need a drain put in after the operation. Most leaks heal with drainage. In rare cases, some patients need another surgery to fix the leak. If there is a leak you may go home with the drain in place (connected to a bag), until the leak heals. Nurses will come to your home to help you with the drain. |
| Blood clots |
You may get a blood clot in your legs or lungs. This can happen for different reasons. It is very important for you to get up and out of bed as soon as you can to get the blood moving and lower the risk of a blood clot. You will get a low dose of a blood thinner each day while you are in hospital. You will go home with enough blood thinner for four weeks. While you are in hospital, nurses will teach you how to give yourself the blood thinner injections. If you get a blood clot you will get a higher dose of blood thinners. |
» Long-term complications & risks
| Long-term effects | What can I expect? | What should I do about it? |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in your diet | Your digestion will be affected for several months after surgery. | Speak with the dietician in the hospital after your surgery for tips about what foods to eat. See the section in this guide: “What can I eat after surgery?” |
| Weight loss |
You may lose weight after your surgery. It can take up to 3 months for you to start to gain this weight back. |
Make sure you talk to the dietitian about what to eat after surgery. If you have any concerns, call the GI surgical nursing team phone line (416-480-5000 x 81061). |
| Diabetes (endocrine pancreatic insufficiency) | There is a chance you will get diabetes after your operation. This is because your pancreas makes insulin which controls your blood sugar. |
If you had diabetes before the procedure, you may need to change your medicine after surgery. Your doctors will watch your blood sugar levels while you are in hospital. |
| Trouble absorbing food (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) |
The enzymes in your body that digest food are lowered when part of your pancreas is taken out. This can cause poor digestion, or mal-absorption, of your food. This will lead to loose stools that are greasy, pale and tend to float. |
If you have any of these symptoms you will get a medication to help you. This will be prescribed by your doctor for you to take at each meal. |
| Stomach ulcers | The way your body deals with stomach acid will change after the surgery. Your intestine will not be protected against the effect of stomach acid. This can lead to ulcers at the connection between the stomach and the intestine. This can cause pain, reflux (heartburn), and bleeding. |
Your intestine will need more protection to lower the risk of ulcers. You will go home with acid blocking medication to lower the risk. You will have to take this medication for the rest of your life. |
