What can I expect after my distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy?

What can I expect after my distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy?

You will not be able to eat regular food for at least two to three days after surgery. Your care team will slowly start you on clear fluids and then to other fluids and foods as you recover. You will be able to slowly resume activity a day after surgery and can take a shower within two days after surgery.

How long do dogs live after splenectomy?

With splenectomy alone, the reported median survival time is 86 d with an estimated 1-year survival rate of 6.25% (8). A more recent study reported a median survival time of 1.6 mo with 11.1% alive at 1 y and 4% alive at 2 y following splenectomy alone (3).

What are the side effects of a pancreatectomy?

Increased or foul smelling drainage from your incision site. Increased pain or redness at your incision site. Pain, nausea, or vomiting that is increased or not controlled by your current medication. Diarrhea or constipation that is not controlled.

What happens after a dog splenectomy?

Your pet may be able to go home the same day or may require several days of hospitalization. When discharged, full recovery should occur in two weeks. The diseased spleen and its large blood clots may weigh up to 10 lbs in a large dog and therefore, pets will appear substantially thinner after surgery.

How long does distal pancreatectomy surgery take?

During your surgery, your surgeon will explore your pancreas and spleen and decide how much to remove. The part of your pancreas that remains will be closed with sutures (stitches) or staples (see Figure 2). Your surgery will take 2 to 4 hours.

How long is the hospital stay for pancreatic surgery?

Hospital Recovery. Patients spend an average of 3-10 days in the hospital after pancreas surgery. While you are in the hospital, many members of your health care team will be checking in on you daily.

Should I remove my dogs spleen?

Although it has several important functions, dogs can manage to live a normal life without a spleen if it has to be removed. The most common reasons for removal (splenectomy) are if the spleen has ruptured (usually after a road traffic accident), or if it develops a tumour.

What happens after a pancreatectomy?

After your surgery, you’ll need to take a medication with your meals that contains enzyme replacement. Your pancreas also makes 2 hormones: insulin and glucagon. They help regulate your blood sugar levels. When your pancreas is removed, you’ll have diabetes.

Can you survive with half a pancreas?

It’s possible to live without a pancreas. But when the entire pancreas is removed, people are left without the cells that make insulin and other hormones that help maintain safe blood sugar levels.

How do you care for a dog after a splenectomy?

Most dogs go home a day or two after surgery. An iron supplement may be needed to help the body recover from any blood loss. Antibiotics will likely be prescribed as will some sort of analgesia (pain relief) for the recovery period.

Is distal pancreatectomy risky?

There are many complications reported after distal pancreatectomy. They included pancreatic fistula, intra-abdominal abscess, anastomotic failures, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, wound infection and renal failure.

What are the outcomes of a distal pancreatectomy?

Patients who underwent a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (n = 198) had a similar complication rate (30% vs. 29%), operative time (4.6 vs. 5.1 hours), and intraoperative blood loss (500 vs. 350 ml) and a shorter postoperative length of stay (13 vs. 21 days) than the patients who had splenic preservation (n = 37).

What are the risks of a partial pancreatectomy for a dog?

Dog Partial Pancreatectomy Considerations. Aside from the usual surgical risks of anesthetic, hemorrhaging and infection, partial pancreatectomy carries with it additional risks due to the severe illness pets requiring this procedure are experiencing and the consequences of reduced pancreatic tissue post surgery.

Can a spleen be removed in a distal pancreatectomy?

Splenectomy is usually performed with distal pancreatectomy in patients suspected of having carcinoma to obtain better margins, and to remove the lymph nodes at the tip of the pancreas and the hilum of the spleen. However, for some limited benign pancreatic diseases, the spleen can be preserved.

Is there a risk of pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy?

Postoperative management of patients after distal pancreatectomy has a similar, if not higher, risk of pancreatic fistula than PD. Patients are advanced to a solid diet as tolerated. If an operative drain is left in place, it is monitored for signs of a pancreatic leak.