Pancreas surgery in Dubai
Specialist care for pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and pseudocysts
Pancreatitis can move from a painful flare to a serious complication within hours, so the assessment you get early matters. Dr Arindam Ghosh treats acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and pancreatic pseudocysts in Dubai, with more than 500 pancreatic surgeries performed and every cancer case reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumour board before a plan is set.
500+ surgeries
Pancreatic procedures
Tumour board
Every cancer case reviewed
Keyhole surgery
Where suitable
500+
Pancreatic surgeries performed
2
Forms of pancreatitis treated: acute and chronic
4
Pancreatic conditions managed
MDT
Tumour board review for cancers
What we treat
Pancreatic conditions treated in Dubai
Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis comes on suddenly, often from gallstones or alcohol, while chronic pancreatitis scars the gland over years. Both are assessed and managed here, from the first flare to long-term enzyme and pain support.
Pancreatic cancer
Tumours of the head, body or tail of the pancreas need staging, then a clear surgical or oncology pathway. Pancreatic cancer that is found early and resectable is treated with the appropriate operation for its location.
Cysts and pseudocysts
A pseudocyst of the pancreas is a fluid collection that often follows pancreatitis. Many settle on their own, but a growing or symptomatic pseudocyst pancreas case may need drainage, which is planned on imaging and symptoms.
Neuroendocrine tumours
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours behave differently from common pancreatic cancers and call for their own staging and surgical judgement. These are managed within the same multidisciplinary review.
When to seek review
Symptoms that should prompt a pancreas review
Pancreatic symptoms are easy to mistake for ordinary indigestion. If any of these persist or recur, ask for an assessment rather than waiting it out.
- Upper abdominal pain that bores through to the back, often worse after eating or lying flat
- Jaundice: yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine or pale stools
- Unexplained weight loss without a change in diet or activity
- Digestive issues such as nausea, bloating, or oily, foul-smelling stools
- Repeated bouts of pain after gallstone attacks or heavy alcohol use
- New diabetes alongside abdominal symptoms in an adult
Diagnosis
How pancreatic conditions are diagnosed
Diagnosis starts with your history and examination, then blood tests for amylase and lipase, and imaging chosen for your case. The aim is to confirm what is happening in the gland and, in cancer, to stage it accurately before any decision about surgery.
- Blood enzymes (amylase and lipase) and liver function tests
- CT and MRI or MRCP to map the gland, ducts and any mass
- Endoscopic ultrasound, often the most precise way to study a small lesion or take a biopsy
- ERCP when a blocked bile or pancreatic duct needs to be cleared
Several of these steps rely on skilled endoscopic diagnosis and intervention →, which lets us look inside the ducts and treat blockages without open surgery.
Surgery explained
Pancreatic surgery options, in plain language
1
Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy)
For tumours and disease in the head of the pancreas. It removes the pancreatic head with the duodenum and reconnects the digestive tract. Our full guide to the Whipple procedure → walks through recovery step by step.
2
Distal pancreatectomy
Removes the body or tail of the pancreas, used for tumours, cysts and some chronic pancreatitis, sometimes alongside the spleen.
3
Minimally invasive laparoscopic pancreas surgery
Keyhole technique used where the disease and anatomy allow, with smaller incisions and, for many patients, a quicker return to normal activity.
4
Cyst and pseudocyst drainage
A symptomatic pseudocyst can be drained endoscopically or surgically, chosen on its size, position and how it connects to the duct.
Don't wait on pain
Persistent upper abdominal pain or jaundice deserves a prompt specialist opinion in Dubai.
Why patients choose this practice
Experience that pancreatic surgery demands
More than 500 pancreatic surgeries
Pancreatic operations are among the most technically demanding in abdominal surgery, and outcomes track closely with how often a surgeon performs them. This is high-volume experience built over years.
Multidisciplinary tumour board
Every pancreatic cancer case is reviewed by a tumour board of surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and pathologists, so your plan reflects more than one expert's view, in step with broader GI cancer care →.
Full hepatopancreatobiliary scope
The pancreas, liver and bile ducts are treated as one connected system. You can read more about the wider scope of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery → and where pancreas care fits within it.
Root-cause focus, not just symptoms
Because most acute pancreatitis in the region traces back to gallstones, treating the source matters. Where stones are the trigger, gallstone treatment → is planned to prevent further attacks.
What to expect, from first visit to follow-up
- 1 Consultation
- 2 Tests and imaging
- 3 Tumour board plan
- 4 Treatment or surgery
- 5 Recovery and follow-up
Common questions
Pancreatic care in Dubai: frequently asked questions
Is pancreatitis a medical emergency?
Acute pancreatitis can be. Severe, constant upper abdominal pain with vomiting, fever or a fast heartbeat needs urgent hospital assessment, because a small number of cases turn serious quickly. Milder, recurring pain still warrants a specialist review to find and treat the cause.
How is pancreatic cancer treated when it is found early?
When pancreatic cancer is confined and resectable, surgery offers the best chance of removing it, usually a Whipple procedure for tumours in the head of the gland or a distal pancreatectomy for the body or tail, often combined with chemotherapy. Every case here is staged and then reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumour board before a plan is agreed.
Does every pancreatic pseudocyst need surgery?
No. Many pseudocysts that form after pancreatitis shrink and resolve on their own with monitoring. Drainage is considered when a pseudocyst pancreas case keeps growing, causes pain, presses on the stomach or bowel, or shows signs of infection. The choice between endoscopic and surgical drainage depends on its size and position.
Can pancreas surgery be done with keyhole techniques?
In selected patients, yes. Minimally invasive laparoscopic pancreas surgery uses small incisions and can mean less pain and a quicker recovery. Suitability depends on the location of the disease, the anatomy of the ducts and vessels, and whether a tumour is involved. Some operations are still safest done open, and that judgement is made case by case.
How experienced is the surgeon with pancreatic operations?
Dr Arindam Ghosh has performed more than 500 pancreatic surgeries. Volume matters in pancreatic surgery because outcomes are closely linked to how regularly a surgeon and team carry out these complex procedures.
What causes pancreatitis most often in the UAE?
Gallstones and alcohol are the two leading causes worldwide, and gallstone-related pancreatitis is common locally. High triglycerides, certain medications and, less often, genetic factors can also be responsible. Identifying the trigger is part of the first assessment, because treating it helps prevent repeat attacks.
How do I book a consultation for a pancreas problem?
You can request an appointment online or by phone and bring any recent scans, blood results or referral letters. Sharing prior imaging helps avoid repeating tests and speeds up the plan for your care.
Get a clear plan for your pancreas
Bring your symptoms or scans to a specialist who treats pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and pseudocysts every week.
We bring the years, global experience, and stamina to guide our clients through new and often disruptive realities.
Surgeries
- Esophagus
- Colorectal
- Gastric & Reflux
- Onco (Cancer)
- Bariatric
- Hepatobiliary
- Pancreas
- Laparoscopic Hernia Repair
- Endoscopy & Colonoscopy
- Liver Transplant
- Proctology
(Fissure, Fistula & Hemorrhoids)