Pancreatectomy
Anesthesia type

GA +/- epidural

Airway

ETT

Lines and access

2 PIV + A-line

Monitors

Standard

Primary anesthetic considerations
Preoperative

Electrolyte disturbances from pancreatitis common, diabetes management

Intraoperative

Hypovolemia common in pancreatitis, insulin/glucose management

Postoperative
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A pancreatectomy can be indicated for conditions such as pancreatic stones, cysts, benign or malignant tumors, ductal obstructions, or chronic pancreatitis. It can be classified as total, where the entire organ is removed, often along with the spleen, gallbladder, local lymph nodes, the common bile duct, and portions of the small intestine and stomach, or partial, where the pancreas is resected from the mesenteric vessels distally, leaving the head and uncinate process intact.

Preoperative management

Patient evaluation

System Considerations
Airway
Neurologic
Cardiovascular
Pulmonary
Gastrointestinal
Hematologic
Renal
Endocrine
Other

Labs and studies

  • CBC
  • Electrolytes, especially K+, serum glucose, BUN, Cr
  • Coags including PT, PTT, INR
  • LFTs
  • urinalysis
  • EKG
  • CXR
  • Echo is commonly requested

Operating room setup

  • Have insulin available for glucose management

Patient preparation and premedication

Regional and neuraxial techniques

  • Epidurals are common to manage postoperative pain
  • If epidural is not performed, TAP blocks can be an alternative

Intraoperative management

Monitoring and access

Induction and airway management

Positioning

Maintenance and surgical considerations

Emergence

Postoperative management

Disposition

Pain management

Potential complications

Procedure variants

Variant 1 Variant 2
Unique considerations
Position
Surgical time
EBL
Postoperative disposition
Pain management
Potential complications

References