Fox Chase Surgeons Offer Revolutionary Procedures to Perform Minimally Invasive Liver and Pancreatic Surgery

Fox Chase is one of only a handful of institutions in the world to offer advanced laparoscopic and minimally invasive techniques for patients with cancer of the liver, pancreas, bile duct and gallblader, including major liver surgery and complicated surgery of the pancreas, called Whipple procedures.

Andrew A. Gumbs, MD, director of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for the liver, pancreas and bile ducts and gallbladder at Fox Chase, is the first American surgeon to complete a fellowship in minimally invasive HPB surgery at the Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Université René Descartes, in Paris, France, where the world's first published case of a laparoscopic gallbladder removal took place.

Nation's Most Experienced Surgeons for Laparoscopic Whipple Procedures and Major Hepatic Resections

Dr. Gumbs is a pioneer in this evolving field, known as HPB (Hepato-Pancreatic and Biliary) surgery. Dr. Gumbs is one of a small group of surgeons nationwide to perform these procedures, specifically Whipple procedures and major hepatic resections, totally laparoscopically.

Surgeons at the Forefront of Laparoscopic Cancer Surgery

John P. Hoffman, MD, FACS, chief of pancreaticobiliary surgery at Fox Chase, James C. Watson, MD, FACS and Andrew A. Gumbs, MD, are among the first surgeons in the Delaware Valley, and in some cases the world, to perform the following totally laparoscopic procedures (dating back to 2003):

• splenectomy
• distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy
• distal pancreatectomy, spleen-preserving
• liver resection
• gastrectomy with gastrointestinal reconstruction
• radical cholecystectomy

Full Spectrum of Surgical Options

Together, this surgical team offers the full spectrum of surgical options for tumors of the liver, pancreas and bile-ducts, ranging from benign, premalignant and small malignant tumors suitable for minimally invasive procedures to large cancers requiring open resection and vascular reconstruction.

Fox Chase is considered to be "just the right size" to recover from major and minor HPB surgery. With its tranquil setting, the hospital is large enough to offer state-of-the-art, innovative technology for modern HPB clinical care, while small enough to ensure that patients will never lose that personal touch with their entire health-care team.

Scarless Surgery

Scarless surgery offers the potential to reduce the length of hospitalization. Dr. Gumbs is a pioneer in this field - specifically, single incision laparoscopic surgery and NOTES (natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery). He was part of the team that performed the first pure NOTES cholecystectomy in North America. These techniques are considered for appropriate patients who meet the criteria necessary for scarless surgery.

In a single-incision laparoscopy, the point of entry is the bellybutton. This procedure is ideally suited for treatment of benign tumors and diagnosis and staging of malignant diseases. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery currently consists of many procedures such as cholecystectomies and splenectomies and is also known as also known as SPA (single port access) and LESS (laparo-endoscopic single-site) surgery.

First Hospital in U.S. to Offer ViKY® Robotic Technology for Liver and Pancreatic Cancer

In addition to using da Vinci^® robotic-assisted surgery, Dr. Gumbs uses the next generation of minimally invasive technology, developed in France. Following Food and Drug Administration approval of the equipment, Fox Chase is the first beta testing site in the nation for the EndoControl ViKY system: a robotically controlled holder for the scope and camera. This new robotic technology, now used for Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS), serves as a "third hand" for the surgeon, providing greater precision and control compared to standard laparoscopy.

Experienced Surgeons

Meet our fellowship-trained surgical team, meaning they have completed additional training focused specifically on the highly complex techniques of cancer surgery, including minimally invasive procedures.

For more information about cancer treatment and prevention at Fox Chase Cancer Center or to make an appointment, call 1-888-FOX CHASE (1-888-369-2427).