A Whipple procedure is performed to treat which condition?

The Whipple procedure, also known as pancreaticoduodenectomy, is primarily utilized in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This surgical operation involves the removal of the head of the pancreas, along with the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), a portion of the bile duct, the gallbladder, and sometimes a part of the stomach. This procedure is indicated when the cancer is localized and has not spread to other organs, making it possible for surgical resection to potentially provide a cure or extend survival.

In contrast, the other conditions listed are not typically treated with a Whipple procedure. For obesity, various other surgical options like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy are more relevant. Stomach cancer may require different surgical approaches such as total or partial gastrectomy, depending on the extent of the cancer. An enlarged spleen, or splenomegaly, is usually addressed through splenectomy, not a Whipple procedure, which focuses specifically on pancreatic conditions. Thus, the focus and complexity of the Whipple procedure align exclusively with addressing pancreatic cancer.