Pancreas Cancer

Robotic Whipple Surgery

The robotic Whipple procedure is a minimally invasive version of the Whipple procedure or pancreatoduodenectomy, a complex surgery used to treat pancreatic cancer and other disorders that may require removal of the pancreas or bile duct. The operation involves removing parts of the pancreas, small intestine gallbladder, bile duct, lymph nodes, and sometimes also the end of the stomach, and then reconnecting the organs so that food can be properly digested.

Robotic Whipple vs. traditional Whipple

In the traditional Whipple, the surgeon makes an abdominal incision to remove and reconstruct affected organs and tissues. For the robotic Whipple, the surgeon operates through several small incisions, using robotic arms equipped with special instruments and a tiny camera. The robotic arms can move precisely and with a wide range of motion like a surgeon's hands, while the camera provides a complete 3D view of the abdominal interior. Because the procedure is less invasive, patients may experience fewer complications and recover more quickly.

Why choose Jupiter Medical Center for Whipple surgery

The Whipple is considered one of the most complex gastrointestinal surgeries, requiring a high level of training and experience. Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, Medical Director, Surgical Gastrointestinal Oncology Program, is the only surgeon in southeast Florida offering this procedure. As a high-volume center, performing more surgeries than anyone in the region, our team of experts brings medical, surgical, and specialty expertise combined with compassionate care to our patients and their family members. Jupiter Medical Center has one of the largest robotic surgery programs in the nation and has been named a Pancreas Surgery Center of Excellence by the National Pancreas Foundation.

Who is a candidate for Whipple surgery?

The robotic Whipple is for select patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer or other disorders of the pancreas or bile duct requiring removal of part of the pancreas.

Advantages of robotic Whipple

The robotic procedure is minimally invasive, Dr. Bhagwandin uses the da Vinci 5 surgical system, the most advanced robotic surgical system available. Potential benefits include:

• Smaller incisions (and therefore, smaller scars)
• Less blood loss
• Less postoperative pain
• Faster recovery

To schedule an appointment, please call 561-263-4400.