pancreatoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure)

Introduction

Surgical resection of the pancreas & the duodenum.

Indications

• locally invasive pancreatic cancer
• cholangiocarcinoma
• small intestinal neoplasms

Procedure

• removal of the head of the pancreas, dodenum, 1st 15 cm of the jejunum, common bile duct, & gallbladder
• partial gastrectomy
• pancreatic & biliary anastomosis placed proximal to gastrojejunostomy, thus alkalinizing gastrojejunostomy

Management

Prognosis:

• 5 year survival 20-30% (pancreatic cancer)

More general terms

• gastrointestinal surgery (GI surgery)
• abdominal surgery
• surgical resection (excision)

Additional terms

• intestinal lipodystrophy (Whipple's disease)