Mark S. Talamonti, MD, clinical professor, NorthShore University HealthSystem, discusses the advantages of minimally invasive surgery for patients with pancreatic cancer. 

According to Talamonti, despite conflicting reviews, there is a role for minimally invasive surgery in this patient population.  

Caution should always be used when bringing on new technologies and results should be reviewed to ensure the improvement to patient care, states Talamonti.  

Videos

Mark S. Talamonti, MD, clinical professor, NorthShore University HealthSystem, discusses the advantages of minimally invasive surgery for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Talamonti on Advantages with Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer

Mark S. Talamonti, MD, clinical professor, NorthShore University HealthSystem, discusses some of the challenges facing minimally invasive surgery for patients with pancreatic cancer.

There is a learning curve for pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as the Whipple procedure, explains Talamonti. A Whipple procedure requires a meticulous dissection of some critical blood vessels, which is both a technically demanding and a potentially dangerous operation.

Adopting that minimally invasive technology to such a dangerous operation has appropriately slowed the adoption of this technology, says Talamonti.

Dr. Talamonti on Challenges Facing Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer

Mark S. Talamonti, MD, clinical professor, NorthShore University HealthSystem, discusses some of the recent surgical advancements in pancreatic cancer.

Currently, the state of the art is that there are a few institutions and a few high-volume surgeons who are able to perform laparoscopic or robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy procedures with the technical efficiency to favorably compare with open pancreatic surgery. Today, the gold standard remains as an open pancreaticoduodenectomy for patients with localized cancer in the head of the pancreas.

However, Talamonti believes that the technology will continue to evolve, training programs will become more formalized, and more surgeons will be able to have the ability to do these operations with a minimally invasive approach—whether they be laparoscopic or robotic. Right now, it is limited to a handful of centers and surgeons who are able to perform this novel technique.

Mark S. Talamonti, MD

Articles

Dr. Talamonti on Advantages with Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer

Dr. Talamonti on Challenges Facing Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer

Dr. Talamonti on Surgical Advancements in Pancreatic Cancer