Pancreatic Cancer is an uncommon occurrence in children, particularly in teenagers. 13-year-old vivacious Karen (name changed for confidentiality purposes) and her parents had no clue that some rather uncommon symptoms would ultimately point to a pancreatic tumour.
Karen had been experiencing lingering back pain for a while. It’s not a common occurrence for a teenager to experience persistent backache, and this worried her parents.
She started having trouble eating, post feeding discomfort, nausea, occasional fever, and vomiting during her recent holiday. Karen along with her parents sought immediate medical attention, only to find out that the root cause of her pain and discomfort was a sizeable pancreatic tumour (11x10x9 cm3).
The only viable and best solution for the pancreatic tumour was its surgical removal. However, every medical facility they consulted offered a traditional open surgery.
Extremely hesitant about subjecting Karen to such an invasive procedure at the age of 13. The family finally visited Fakeeh University Hospital for a consultation with Dr. Kamalesh Pal and finally got the relief they had been seeking.
Dr. Kamalesh Pal, Consultant Pediatric Surgeon, and Pediatric Urologist at Fakeeh University Hospital performed curative resection of a large pancreatic tumor in a teenager by total laparoscopic approach. The surgery was successful with the young girl’s health restored.
Laparoscopic surgery involves the use of small incisions and specialized instruments, guided by a laparoscope for enhanced visibility. This technique is renowned and a preferred surgical technique for faster recovery and improved patient outcomes and for favourable cosmetic outcomes.
Karen underwent a laparoscopic sub-total pancreatectomy with Splenectomy enabling smooth post operative recovery with minimal pain and excellent cosmetic outcome. Contrary to a lengthy post operative stay of nearly 10 days in open surgery, Karen was discharged within 3 days, enabling her an early return to school. Karen is now advised regular follow ups to monitor for infections, manage glucose levels, assess food digestion, and ensure overall pancreatic function.
“Minimally invasive technique is the procedure of choice for such complex anomalies with excellent outcomes. In Karen’s case, her post operative recovery was remarkably smooth, and she started solid feed within 48 hours. For someone who couldn’t keep her food down for long, it’s a remarkable recovery within a short time,” said surgeon Dr. Kamalesh Pal.
“As a parent all you want is to make sure your child is safe and healthy and that’s exactly how I can sum up our experience at Fakeeh University Hospital,” said happy parents of Karen.
Dr. Kamalesh Pal’s surgical expertise combined with advanced technologies at Fakeeh University Hospital enabled successful outcome for this surgery.
