What is the difference between the Whipple procedure and the mini-Whipple?
Academic Title: Assistant Professor
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Surgery
The “classic” Whipple procedure includes the removal of a portion of the lower part of the stomach. The “mini-Whipple” procedure which is technically called a pylorus preserving Whipple allows the patient to keep their entire stomach. Studies have shown that the ability to render a patient cancer free and the complication rates of these two operations are equivalent. Currently, nearly 85% to 90% of patients are candidates for the “mini-Whipple”.