Dealing with pancreatic conditions can be emotionally and physically overwhelming. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with a pancreatic cyst, tumour or chronic pancreatitis, the thought of undergoing surgery may feel daunting. Now with a minimally invasive technique like laparoscopic surgery, you can potentially reduce pain and recovery time.
Laparoscopic pancreas surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to treat various pancreatic conditions. Instead of a large abdominal incision, the surgeon makes several small incisions through which a camera (laparoscope) and surgical instruments are inserted. This allows the surgeon to perform complex procedures while reducing trauma to surrounding tissues.
Compared to traditional open surgery, laparoscopic techniques typically result in:
Not all pancreatic conditions are suitable for a laparoscopic approach though, and you should speak to your doctor for an accurate assessment.
Used to remove the body and tail of the pancreas, often for cysts, benign tumours, or malignancies. Sometimes, the spleen is also removed depending on the location of the tumour.
Suitable for small, benign pancreatic tumours that are well-encapsulated. This technique allows the surgeon to remove the tumour while preserving most of the pancreas.
This complex surgery is occasionally performed laparoscopically in high-volume centres. It involves removing the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, gallbladder, and bile duct.
In patients with fluid collections from pancreatitis, laparoscopic drainage can relieve symptoms and prevent infection.
You may be considered for laparoscopic pancreas surgery if you have:
Preparation typically includes:
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. The surgeon will:
The operation can take between 2 to 6 hours, depending on complexity.
After surgery, you’ll be monitored in the recovery room before being transferred to the ward. Recovery may involve:
Most patients can return to light activities in 2–3 weeks and full activities in about 6 weeks.
The cost of laparoscopic pancreas surgery in Singapore varies based on several factors, including the type and complexity of the procedure. Quoting from the Ministry of Health Doctors Fee Benchmark, the doctors’ professional fees are as follows:
Surgeons’ fees typically range from $12,000 to $18,000 (excluding GST).
Surgeons’ fees usually range from $5,500 to $11,200 (excluding GST).
Surgeons’ fees generally range from $22,400 to $33,600 (excluding GST).
Surgeons’ fees typically range from $7,300 to $11,200 (excluding GST).
These figures reflect only the surgical fees. The final hospital bill will also depend on:
All procedures are Medisave-claimable, which can help cover part of the cost. Additional support may be available through your integrated shield plan or private insurance. For a cost estimate tailored to your situation, please consult with your hospital’s financial counsellor or care team.
Patients with small, well-localised tumours or cysts, and no major vascular involvement, are typically good candidates.
Less pain, shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery, and smaller scars.
Watch for fever, abdominal pain, nausea, infection at incision sites, or signs of a pancreatic leak (persistent drainage, fluid collections).
Hospital stays typically range from 3–7 days depending on your condition and the specific surgery performed.
Depending on the amount of pancreas removed, some patients may require pancreatic enzyme supplements or rarely, insulin therapy.
Benign tumours rarely recur. Malignant tumours will require close follow-up and possibly further treatment based on staging.
This depends on the underlying condition. If it is a cancer, your surgeon will recommend regular follow-ups, often every 3–6 months in the first year, then annually. For benign tumours, either just a scan 6 months to one year after the surgery, or no scan is required.
Nexus Surgical provides comprehensive financial services to ensure a seamless and pleasant experience.
Our clinics will be closed from 16 – 18 Feb for CNY
Our clinic at Mt Alvernia Medical Centre A will be relocating from #06-05 to #03-03 (within the same building) on Friday, 26 Sep afternoon.
Our telephone line 6353 4855 will be temporarily unavailable from 12:00pm – 6:00pm on 26 September. During this period, you may reach out to our other clinics for assistance:
We will begin operations at our new premises (#03-03) from Tuesday, 30 Sep onwards.
We look forward to serving you at our new clinic!
Nexus Surgical clinics at Mt Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Gleneagles Medical Centre, Parkway East Medical Centre and Mt Alvernia Medical Centre will be closed on 28 January 2025 for Lunar New Year celebrations, while our clinic at Mt Elizabeth Orchard Medical Centre remains open from 0900-1300 hours on 28 January 2025.
Please leave a message in our voice mails and we will respond to you as soon as we can when we resume our clinics on 31 January 2025. If you require any urgent assistance, kindly go to the Urgent Care Centre of any hospitals or contact your doctor through the Emergency Answering Service. Our team at Nexus Surgical would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Happy & Prosperous Lunar New Year with good health in the Year of the Snake!
Nexus Surgical will be away from 17 to 20 October 2024 for our Annual Company Retreat. The aim of our retreat is to review and to recharge, so that we may serve you better.
Our clinics at Mount Elizabeth Orchard, Mount Elizabeth Novena, Mount Alvernia and Parkway East hospitals will therefore be closed during this period. In the meantime, if you require any urgent assistance, kindly contact us through our Answering Service at +65 6333 5550.
We thank you for your understanding and patience for any inconvenience.
