With pancreatic cancer on the rise, surgeons are finding new ways to treat it. North of West Palm Beach, Jupiter Medical Center’s Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin employs robotic help in doing a procedure known as a “Whipple” to treat pancreatic cancer, cysts, tumors, pancreatitis and other gastro tumors and cancers.
“Gastrointestinal cancers, which include pancreatic cancer, are on the rise, especially in younger adults,” said Bhagwandin. “It is imperative that we continue to evolve our monitoring, detection and treatment of these diseases to ensure that we can provide the best possible outcomes for our patients. The use of surgical robots to assist with complicated surgical procedures, such as the Whipple, has been associated with improved patient outcomes and accelerated patient healing, so that patients can more quickly get back to living.”
The procedure takes off the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and bile duct.
Using robotics — Jupiter was one of the first in Florida to have a da Vinci 5 surgical robot — is minimally invasive and improves recovery time and patient discomfort, he says. Indeed, the first patient he treated with robotic support was walking a mile within a week.
The medical center’s Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence — Bhagwandin is the program director — has been recognized by the National Pancreas Foundation. He’s also medical director of the medical center’s gastrointestinal surgical oncology program. According to the medical center, he’s the highest volume leader for liver, pancreas, gastric and esophageal procedures in the region, whether robotic or “open.”