Treatment
Pancreatic Surgery
The liver and pancreas cancer team at the Hammersmith Hospital has a long-standing commitment to provide treatment for patients with pancreatic disorders. More than 300 new patients with either benign or malignant diseases are referred to our HBP unit each year. The multidisciplinary team approach to our patients, drawing on more than 30 consultant’s expertise including surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiologists, oncologists and pathologists determines the most appropriate treatment for each patient. All of us are leading members of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons in the UK and a participant in most of the national clinical trials to improve the detection, treatment, and prevention of pancreatic disorders.
Pancreatic cancer
The centre provides state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment to patients with pancreatic cancers. Patients can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy, alone or in combination. Innovative research efforts are currently under way involving improvements in surgical techniques, advances in radiation therapy and combinations of radiation therapy with drug therapy, and the use of innovative chemotherapeutic agents.
Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer are not suitable for surgical removal of the tumour. Pain is a frequent symptom for these patients and techniques to reduce pain have been investigated and have shown to improve a patient’s quality of life. We perform celiac plexus block to improve patients’ pain level, mood, and life expectancy. This can be done either radiologically or laparoscopically where a laparoscope can be guided through small incisions in the abdomen.
The service is supported by nurse specialists, who act as the patient’s “key worker”. This system provides a primary point of contact to patients and their family giving emotional support, advice on symptom control, information and referral to and liaison with community teams.
Benign pancreatic diseases
We have a large team of experts to provide 24-hour services for acute pancreatitis, supported by dedicated intensive care beds and consultants. The unit has a world-renowned reputation on the management of chronic pancreatitis, offering surgical, radiological and endoscopic treatment options.
Liver Surgery
The Hammersmith Hospital liver and pancreas cancer team has a long-standing commitment to provide treatment for patients with liver disorders. More than 500 new patients with either benign or malignant diseases are referred to our team each year. The multidisciplinary team approach to our patients draws on more than 30 consultant’s expertise including surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiologists, oncologists and pathologists to determine the most appropriate treatment for each patient. The team includes a group of specialised interventional radiologists who are expert in using non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment procedures with the help of image guidance from computed tomography (CT) scans and endoscopic ultrasound.