Hyderabad: Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organization it accounts for around eight per cent of all cancer related deaths in men and women.

Earlier the incidence of pancreatic cancers usually was seen in the elderly age groups (people above >60 yrs). But in the last few years there has been an increase the number of patients who are in their middle ages and being diagnosed with the disease.

Even though surgical removal of the cancer (whipples operation) provides the best chance of cure to these patients, Only around 30 per cent out of the total cases are presented in an operable stage.

Global Hospitals, Hyderabad, received a case of a 45 year old male patient who presented with abdominal pain and unexplained severe weight loss of more than ten kgs in last three months.

Upon evaluation, the patient was detected to have chronic pancreatitis with dilated ductal system of liver and pancreas with a mass/tumor in the head of pancreas. After a careful review of the options, Surgeons at Global Hospitals, Hyderabad came up with an innovative surgery option which would benefit the patient immensely.

“Under normal circumstances an open whipples operation would have been performed, as is the case to treat such problems. But this patient being a young male and a strenuous worker by occupation and the risk of respiratory and wound problems, a total laparoscopic whipples operation would immensely benefit the patient, although it’s an extremely challenging surgery” said Dr. Vijaykumar C Bada, Senior Consultant, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Minimal Access Surgery and HPB Surgery who performed this surgery.

“So it was then decided to perform the surgery through a laparoscopic surgery. This is the first of its kind surgery- total laparoscopic whipples performed in the state of Telangana. And given the nature and the complexity of the surgery involved very few centers across the country perform Whipples surgery laparoscopically,” Dr Bada added.

Addressing the press conference, Dr. K Ravindranath, Chairman and Managing Director, Global Hospitals Group, said, “Global Hospitals, since inception has gained the reputation of pioneering and innovating many clinical programs. Global Hospitals Group today is the largest multi-locational, multi-organ transplant centre for liver, kidney, heart & lung transplants. The growing incidence of various gastro-intestinal problems and high level of complexities has made it imperative for us to further raise the benchmarks of our clinical programs significantly. This is yet another example of the cutting edge and first of its kind treatment we are offering for the treatment of a complex problem.”