Improving Nutritional Management After Whipple Surgery

Through the WCMICS IGNITE program, Dietitians Jessica Jong and Ann-marie Freyne led a cross-site improvement project at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to standardise nutritional care for patients following Whipple surgery.

Patients undergoing Whipple procedures are at high risk of malnutrition, which can lead to complications, longer hospital stays, and poorer recovery outcomes. Prior to this project, nutrition management varied between clinicians, with no consistent guidance available to support decision-making for dietitians and junior doctors.

The project involved a comprehensive review of best-practice evidence, a retrospective audit of 30 patients across both sites, and consultation with key stakeholders. This work resulted in the development of a concise, evidence-based nutrition care pathway, designed to support timely and consistent clinical decision-making. Supporting tools, including electronic medical record smartphrases, were also developed to enable immediate clinical use.

This project strengthened collaboration between teams across two major cancer services and established a strong foundation for consistent, evidence-based nutrition care. With further implementation and endorsement, the pathway has the potential to reduce variation in practice, improve patient outcomes, and enhance recovery following complex pancreatic surgery.

Learn more about how the IGNITE program supports clinicians to lead meaningful improvement projects across cancer services.

The full project report is available upon request.