Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery

Auto islet surgery is used to treat chronic pancreatitis, which usually requires a total pancreatectomy. In many cases, patients who are candidates for auto islet transplant surgery are also candidates for a minimally invasive approach. Your surgeon will determine if you are a good candidate for islet transplant surgery.

A distal pancreatectomy is the removal of the body and tail of the pancreas. During this procedure, the head of the pancreas is left intact.

A total pancreatectomy is the removal of the entire pancreas.

There are two options for minimally invasive liver surgery at Johns Hopkins, including a total laparoscopic liver resection and total robotic liver resection.

The type of liver surgery offered is based on a variety of factors, such as the biology, size and location of lesions in the liver, and whether someone qualifies as a candidate for this procedure. These options will be discussed with you by your surgeon, and all available information will be considered before making the most appropriate decision together.

A successful minimally invasive liver resection will typically leave a patient with smaller incisions, less surgical pain, a quicker recovery and potential earlier adjuvant treatment, if needed.

The Whipple procedure, also known as pancreaticoduodenectomy, is an operation that is necessary to remove tumors on the top of the pancreas, lower portion of the bile duct and the ampulla of Vater (a small opening that enters into the first portion of the small intestine, known as the duodenum).

The procedure, which can be done robotically or laparoscopically, removes the entire head of the pancreas, bile duct, gallbladder and surrounding lymph nodes. In the pylorus-preserving version of the Whipple procedure, the entire stomach is left behind. In the standard version of the Whipple procedure, one-third of the stomach is removed. The intestinal tract is reconnected through the pancreas, bile duct and stomach.