Doha, Qatar: Hamad Medical Corporation has successfully performed robotic Whipple surgery for the first time in Qatar, marking a major advancement in the treatment of complex pancreatic disease.

The Whipple procedure is one of the most intricate abdominal operations, involving removal of the pancreatic head, duodenum, part of the bile duct, gallbladder, and sometimes a portion of the stomach, followed by digestive tract reconstruction. The surgery typically lasts around 9 hours.

HMC's first robotic Whipple was performed on a 42-year-old woman diagnosed with a pancreatic head neoplasm. Using robotic instruments and a 3D camera, surgeons completely removed the lesion through small incisions with enhanced precision.

The patient began walking the day after surgery, demonstrating the benefits of minimally invasive techniques.

Benefits of robotic Whipple compared to open surgery:

- Smaller incisions and less scarring

- Reduced blood loss

- Less post-operative pain

- Faster recovery and shorter hospital stay

- Quicker return to normal activities

The milestone reduces the need for patients to travel abroad for specialized care and positions HMC to build greater expertise in complex robotic procedures.

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