A duodenum-preserving and bile duct-preserving total pancreatic head resection with associated pancreatic duct-to-duct anastomosis.

A duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection technique was first reported in 1980, but the indications have been limited to benign pancreatic disease as it involves a subtotal pancreatic head resection. In 1988 we detailed a duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection (DPTPHR) technique. This procedure involved a total pancreatic head resection and as such expanded the indications for this approach to include tumorigenic masses. The original method involved closure of the proximal pancreatic duct and an anastomosis of the pancreatic duct of the distal pancreas to a newly created small hole in the duodenum (we termed this a "pancreatoduodenostomy"). Our current technique involves a duct-to-duct anastomosis of the proximal pancreatic duct and the distal pancreas to better preserve anatomic structure. DPTPHR was performed in 26 patients from 1988 to 2002, including 12 cases of DPTPHR with pancreatoduodenostomy and 14 cases of DPTPHR with pancreatic duct-to-duct anastomosis. No differences were observed between the two methods with respect to operative time or blood loss during surgery. Postoperatively, there was one case of cholecystitis and one case of pancreatitis in a patient who underwent a pancreatoduodenostomy; both of these patients were treated conservatively with curative intent. No complications were observed in the group undergoing duct-to-duct anastomosis. The advantage of duct-to-duct anastomosis is that the pancreatic head is totally resected, thus allowing removal of neoplastic disease such as an intraductal papillary mucinous tumor and also therapy for chronic pancreatitis. A key benefit of this procedure is that sphincter function of the duodenal papilla is preserved permitting drainage of pancreatic/bile juice into the duodenum, preserving a more physiologic state than is the case after a pancreatoduodenostomy.