Problems of reconstruction during pancreatoduodenectomy.

Pancreatoduodenectomy may be a difficult operation, not only during the resectional part of the procedure, but also during reconstruction. Usually, these problems are due to local conditions of the organs/tissues, such as small diameter of the common bile duct or pancreatic duct, friable soft pancreas, vascular anomalies, etc. Reconstruction may also be problematic because of the hemodynamic instability of the patient during surgery (subsequent to massive hemorrhage), and in those unusual cases, delayed reconstruction may be a life-saving, wise choice. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel