NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Oncology and Ascension Saint Thomas are now offering the Robotic Whipple procedure, which is a minimally invasive procedure to treat pancreatic cancer and other diseases of the pancreas.
Dr. Mariana Chavez, who is a surgeon with The Surgical Clinic, a division of Tennessee Oncology, and specializes in hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery, is performing the procedure at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown and Tristar Centennial Medical Center.
The Whipple procedure is a complex surgery in which the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, called the duodenum, the gallbladder, and sometimes part of the stomach, are removed, which is followed by reconstruction so the patient's digestive system functions.
During an Open Whipple surgery, the surgeon makes a large abdominal incision to directly access and remove the pancreas head, duodenum, gallbladder, and part of the stomach. Using the Robotic platform, the surgeon makes small incisions and controls robotic instruments to perform the same complex procedure with enhanced precision, which reducing blood loss, pain, scarring, and the chance of a future hernia. Patients have a faster recovery time and are even able to walk soon after the procedure. The procedure takes approximately six hours.
Dr. Chavez stresses that the procedure might not be for all patients. The Robotic approach is a tool that can help surgeons conduct the procedure with a faster recovery time. In some situations, Dr. Chavez says, the open procedure is the medically appropriate route for a successful surgery.
At both Midtown and Centennial hospitals, Dr. Chavez is utilizing the most advanced technology to perform the Robotic Whipple. She uses the da Vinci 5 Surgical System, which is Intuitive Surgical's fifth generation, multiport robotic platform. The system features groundbreaking Force Feedback technology, which provides surgeons with a tactile sense of the forces on tissue for enhanced precision and control. It offers improved ergonomics, a more immersive 3D vision system, greater computing power for advanced data capabilities, and over 150 enhancements compared to previous models.
