In addition to expert-level care, minimally invasive surgery is performed on select patients to increase patient safety, reduce scarring, and provide faster recovery, when appropriate. We treat patients at facilities in Durham and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Our multidisciplinary approach allows us to optimize and personalize care. Specialists from a variety of areas at Duke, including surgery and radiology, come together for weekly conferences in which we review all cases together to determine the best approach for each patient. Our surgeons also share clinic with experts in other disciplines, including medical oncology and radiation oncology, which facilitates multidisciplinary evaluation and real-time decision making, such that all treatment plans are tailored to a patient’s specific circumstances. We also have detailed care maps to ensure follow-ups and other post-operative support is provided, which improves outcomes for our patients.
Pancreas
We specialize in three types of pancreatic surgery:
- Tumors: Duke is one of the few places in the U.S. that offers a minimally invasive (robotic) Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer. Our 98 percent survival rate ranks among the highest in the country.
- Cysts: As imaging techniques become more sophisticated, early detection of pancreatic cysts has increased. Normally these cysts don’t pose a threat, but some are potentially cancerous and need to be removed surgically. We have a robust cyst surveillance program, as well as clinical trials pertaining to cyst management.
- Pancreatitis: Acute pancreatitis can cause severe and ongoing pain. We specialize in advanced drainage procedures for pancreatic necrosis and chronic pancreatitis. This condition deserves multidisciplinary consideration for which we work closely with our colleagues in advanced gastroenterology.
Liver
We have expertise in surgical treatment of liver disorders including:
- Liver tumors: We treat primary and metastatic tumors through open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery. We also use microwave ablation in conjunction with surgery.
- Benign and malignant cysts
- Biliary and gallbladder tumors