[Technique of surgical ampullectomy].

We describe the technique of surgical ampullectomy, which consists of complete resection of the papilla of Vater, including the sphincter, the distal part of common bile duct and Wirsung duct, and the duodenal wall around the papilla. Limits of resection are assessed by frozen section, particularly on both biliary and pancreatic ducts which are sutured together and reinserted on the duodenal wall. Surgical ampullectomy, combined with frozen section, is associated with a low morbidity, and represents a valid alternative to pancreaticoduodenectomy and endoscopic ampullectomy for presumed-benign ampullomas.