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Home > Pancreas Education > Treatment > Surgery
Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Surgery
Post-Operative Expectations
As with all major operations, recovering from a pancreatic surgery takes time. Full recovery requires an average of two months. Depending on the type of operation you undergo, you will be admitted into the hospital for 1-3 weeks so that your medical team can monitor any post-operative complications. Some common complications include leakage from the various intestinal connections the surgeon makes during an operation, infection, and bleeding. These complications are typically managed with a combination of draining tubes and antibiotics. It is important to emphasize the necessity of choosing an experienced surgeon and treatment facility where these complications are significantly lower.
After pancreatic surgery, it is normal to have difficulty eating or to experience symptoms of nausea, vomiting or heartburn. These symptoms are caused by a condition known as "gastric ileus," or temporary paralysis of the stomach. After several weeks, your digestive system should return to "normal." However, there is no way to predict how quickly your stomach will regain full function, and patients must undergo a trial-and-error process as they attempt to resume normal eating. In some cases, patients find they must make permanent changes to their diet in order to alleviate symptoms of diarrhea, gas, and stomach pain. In situations where gastric ileus persists, a supplemental feeding tube can help to ensure the patient receives proper nutrients.
In general, when recovering from a pancreatic operation, the goal should be to eat small meals throughout the day. It is important to include enough fluid and protein. Specialists at The Pancreas Center have compiled a list of suggested foods found to be more easily digested as the stomach recovers normal function. It is available via the link below:
Post-Operative Dietary Guidelines
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