What are the main complications of surgery?
Academic Title: Assistant Professor
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Surgery
The Whipple operation is a major surgical procedure that carries with it a small chance of developing many potential complications associated with any major surgery. These would include heart attack, stroke, blood clot, bleeding, infection, etc.
The most common complication after the procedure is the development of a leak of pancreatic juice at the site of connection between the pancreas and intestine. Generally, this type of leak is well controlled with drains that are placed at the time of surgery and the leak seals itself over the course of a couple of weeks.