Dubai: Doctors at Rashid Hospital have successfully removed the pancreas of a patient that had turned cancerous, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said in a statement. This surgery is done by few surgeons in the UAE as it is very complicated and the mortality rate of the patients is high.
Dr Faisal Badri, head of surgery, said the patient went to a private hospital in Dubai complaining of nausea and pain in her stomach. “The ultrasound and other investigative tests showed that she had jaundice and a big lump in her pancreas.”
She was then referred to Rashid Hospital where doctors carried out additional tests and diagnosed her as having pancreatic cancer.
“She had no option but to go through this procedure,” said the doctor. The doctor said when the stomach was cut open, the surgical team realised that the cancerous mass was not only on the head of the pancreas but extended throughout the pancreas
Dr Badri said the pancreas had to be removed. “We also removed the lymph nodes surrounding the pancreas to prevent the recurrence of cancer and conducted a biopsy that fortunately showed that there was no cancer in the lymph nodes.”
The patient is currently in stable condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) and will be discharged after three weeks. “This surgery is a major procedure and therefore the patient needs to be in the hospital for a longer period of time as compared to other surgeries,” the doctor said.
Every year the surgery section conducts 18 pancreatic surgeries for cancer, but has only conducted 14 pancreatectomies so far.
Dr Badri said that out of these 14, five patients developed diabetes after the procedure. Diabetes induced by total pancreatectomy is known as pancreatogenic diabetes and has to be managed effectively.
“At the moment we do not know if she will develop diabetes or not but in such cases the aim is to save the life and intervene before the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.”
He said the patient will be referred back to the oncologist on discharge. In addition she will meet a physiotherapist, dietician and a general surgeon to ensure she follows a 360 degree approach to health.
“She will need to take a pancreatic enzyme tablet every day before and during her meals to ensure digestion of the food. Her sugar levels will also be monitored regularly. The key is to follow a very healthy lifestyle.”
Dr Badri said the general surgery department at the hospital has so far conducted 3,242 surgical procedures.
